A Chichester man who subjected five young women to a campaign of physical, sexual and emotional abuse has been convicted at Portsmouth Crown Court.
George de Bathe, 25, of North Mead, Chichester, was found guilty of a string of offences including multiple rapes, actual bodily harm, sexual assaults, false imprisonment, and coercive and controlling behaviour.
The charges relate to a disturbing pattern of behaviour between 2015 and 2019, during which de Bathe entered into separate relationships with five victims—now all in their 20s—who were in their mid to late teens at the time.
A Pattern of Control and Violence
During these relationships, de Bathe exerted total control over his victims’ lives: dictating who they could see, what they could wear, and even where they could work. He used threats of violence, physical assaults, and sexual coercion to maintain power over them. In some cases, victims were:
Threatened with knives
Locked in cars while he drove dangerously
Tracked through their mobile phones
Assaulted until they lost consciousness
Four victims reported being raped or sexually assaulted, some on multiple occasions.
Victims Speak Out
The case first came to light in April 2018, when one of the women bravely reported her experiences to Sussex Police. She also reached out to other women connected with de Bathe, many of whom later came forward with similar allegations.
This led to a long and complex investigation, during which detectives identified four further victims. In January 2024, de Bathe was charged with:
6 counts of rape
8 counts of actual bodily harm
5 counts of coercive and controlling behaviour
2 counts of sexual assault
2 counts of false imprisonment
1 count of making threats to kill
On 29 April, he was found guilty on all charges except one count of ABH, of which he was acquitted.
He is due to be sentenced on Friday, 11 July, at Portsmouth Crown Court.
Police and CPS Praise Victims’ Courage
Detective Constable Jon Petroulas, officer in charge of the case, said:
“George de Bathe has shown a clear pattern of manipulating women, before revealing his violent, controlling and sexually abusive tendencies.
These women have shown incredible courage in coming forward and supporting this investigation.”
DC Maddie Ursell, Deputy Officer in Charge, added:
“This case highlights the value of Clare’s Law, which allows individuals to ask police whether their partner has a violent past. Sussex Police is a leading force in Clare’s Law disclosures.”
Karen Cushing, from the Crown Prosecution Service, praised the victims for their strength:
“Despite his threats that police would never touch him, their testimony allowed us to build a compelling case and bring him to justice.”
