By New York Post (World News) | Created at 2025-01-03 00:00:06 | Updated at 2025-01-05 05:45:19
2 days ago
A distinguished Royal Air Force veteran was sentenced to five years behind bars for creating sexually explicit deepfake photos of his ex-wife and other women he spent years stalking and posting the images to porn and sex websites.
Jonathan Bates, 54, was handed his sentence Thursday in Truro Crown Court in Cornwall after admitting he superimposed the photos of four women on naked bodies and used the altered pictures for fake profiles on various websites advertising sexual services for money or pleasure, UK outlets reported.
The victims, which also included two teachers and a woman he met once at a funeral, said their personal and professional lives have been turned upside down and now live in fear and humiliation.
Jonathan Bates, 54, was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to stalking and revenge porn charges. Devon and Cornwall Police“I do not know what I have ever done to make him ruin my life,” one victim said in an impact statement read in court, Cornwall Live reported.
“I had to leave my job and my career. My professional reputation has been tarnished. This has taken a huge emotional and psychological toll.”
Prosecutors said the convicted creep befriended his victims and then scoured their social media accounts to collect personal photos and details to create the pornographic deepfake images and profiles between 2017 and 2022, the outlet reported.
The disturbing accounts also featured their names, addresses, phone numbers and employment details encouraging admirers to contact them for services – leading one victim to receive a visit from a man at her home who scolded her for not showing up to an arranged date.
Another victim said she was approached by people in the streets who questioned the sexual services she offered, the outlet reported.
Police later recovered nine USBs from Bates’ home that contained thousands of pornographic images of the women after he claimed his computer was hacked, The Telegraph reported.
While attempts were made to remove the salacious photos and fake accounts from the pornographic sites, prosecutors said the “pernicious” nature of the internet would keep victims’ images from ever truly being erased.
Bates’ sentence was handed down Thursday in Truro Crown Court in Cornwall. Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images“It’s just the tip of the iceberg,” another victim said in an impact statement read in court, Cornwall Live reported.
“I dread that it will come to light again in years to come. I’m sick and tired of this.”
Bates, who reportedly served several military tours in war zones and suffered PTSD, pleaded guilty to four charges of stalking and a revenge porn charge against his ex-wife, UK outlets reported.
Judge Simon Carr scolded Bates for taking pleasure in punishing and terrorizing his victims, adding that the horrific images would live online “forever.”
“You have devastated the lives of these four women for your own entertainment and they will go to their graves knowing that there are images of them on the internet offering sexual services of an extreme nature,” Carr said, the outlet reported.
“This was done to maximize fear and humiliation for your own gratification over many years.”
Each victim also received a restraining order against Bates that will remain in effect for 10 years.
