A 50-YEAR-OLD man accused of rape portrayed himself as “a place of safety” to gain the trust of vulnerable teenage girls and satisfy his “sexual interest in raping women”, the Royal Court has heard.
Shay John Edward Bester denies nine counts of rape, three counts of procuring an act of gross indecency, three of unlawful sexual intercourse and one of assault, which he allegedly committed against three young women.
The offences are alleged to have taken place several decades ago. The three women came forward independently of one another after Mr Bester was convicted of raping a teenager in 2023 – but they do not know the details of each other’s allegations, the court heard.
Crown Advocate Emma Hollywood, prosecuting, said there were “clear similarities” between their testimonies that she said made clear Mr Bester’s “modus operandi”.
Mr Bester preyed on vulnerable young women, she said, adding that he “has an entrenched and indeed ongoing sexual interest in raping women”.
Jurors were told that police officers found “rape pornography” on Mr Bester’s devices several years ago.
Crown Advocate Hollywood said that Mr Bester raped the teenagers – all of whom are now adult women – when they were particularly “vulnerable”, including being intoxicated or in an emotionally heightened situation.
“It is the prosecution’s case that the defendant is a sexual predator who targeted vulnerable teenagers,” she said.
Mr Bester, she explained, “preyed on each of the girls” and took advantage of their vulnerability and lack of life experience.
He would present himself as “a place of safety” for the women, the Crown Advocate said, adding: “None of this was kindness. None of this was true. This was a sexual predator, an abusive man at work.”
The first of the three alleged victims gave evidence in the Royal Court yesterday, on the first day of Mr Bester’s trial.
The woman said: “I just remember him saying: ‘I think you need to be excited’.” She added that she remembered thinking: “I don’t want it and you’re forcing me”.
The alleged victim described how on one occasion, she was “laying like a sack of spuds” while Mr Bester assaulted her.
“There was never any pleasure at all,” she said. “I think it’s because it felt controlled, forced.”
The jury trial is expected to last two weeks. Commissioner Andrew Oldland is presiding.
