March 2004
Sex offender gets 11-year term
A man described in court as an “ideal father and husband” has been jailed for a total of 11 years for a string of sex offences two decades ago.
Father-of-three Joseph Bateson, 39, committed the offences when he was in his teens and early 20s. His victim was just six when the abuse began.
Bateson, of Cairnmorn Road in Toomebridge, was given consecutive sentences of six and a half years for a serious sexual offence and sentences totalling four and a half years for gross indecency and indecent assault.
At his trial in January, Bateson was convicted of 18 sex offences against the victim, who was his neighbour and a friend of his younger brother.
Bateson showed no emotion when he was sentenced at Belfast Crown Court on Friday.
The judge said the victim had been subjected to “relentless abuse” which was “vile and depraved in nature” and which robbed him of his childhood.
The victim waived his right to anonymity saying the sentence sent out a message to both abusers and victims.
“This is a sad day for everybody really. I don’t feel any gloating or happiness. I feel sorry for him and his family,” he said.
“I hope this helps other victims to come forward and sort their lives out a bit better.”
The victim, who has four children, said he wanted to put what happened behind him.
