A PREDATORY paedophile who repeatedly abused three teenage girls has become the second person in Jersey to receive a life sentence for sexual offences.
Speaking to Shay John Edward Bester (50) in the Royal Court yesterday, Commissioner Andrew Oldland said he posed a “serious risk” to the public.
Bester was convicted at trial in February of six counts of rape, two of unlawful sexual intercourse, one of assault and one of procuring an act of gross indecency.
He was already serving a 17-year jail sentence for luring a teenager he met online to his Jersey flat, where he kept her for 17 days and raped her, and he also has several other convictions for sexual offences.
In the Royal Court yesterday, Crown Advocate Emma Hollywood described how he preyed on the women when they were vulnerable teenagers and young adults.
She said: “Shay John Edward Bester, the defendant, is a sexual predator who targeted vulnerable teenagers.”
He used aggression, emotional abuse and gaslighting to prey on his victims and encouraged them to take drugs and alcohol, the court was told.
The first woman, the Crown Advocate recalled, said Bester “made her feel heard and understood”, before he “secluded” and abused her.
Of the rape against her, the victim said: “I already said no. How many times does a person have to say no?”
Bester also threatened to take his own life before assaulting her, she said, and sought out the victim at her home in the months after the attacks.
The second woman was not old enough to consent when Bester first met her, the advocate said, leading to the conviction of unlawful sexual intercourse.
Bester introduced the third victim to drugs including valium and dihydrocodeine, the advocate said, and raped her multiple times.
Advocate Hollywood stressed the severity of the offences and the “specific targeting of particularly vulnerable individuals” and use of alcohol and drugs.
Bester, she said, “does not accept any responsibility for any of the offences which he has been convicted of”.
He refuses to consider the women to be victims, she said, and “does not have any insight into his offending”.
If he was given a discretionary life sentence, she said, his release would depend on the success of any treatments.
Advocate Olaf Blakeley, defending, said Bester had had a difficult childhood, growing up in care, and with a reference to him “having been mistreated as well”.
He added that Bester was relatively young when he committed the offences.
The sentence, he said, “must be so that the victims feel that the defendant has been properly dealt with by the court, but also it should be so that it gives the defendant some hope… something to work towards”.
He must be “reasonably dealt with”, he said.
The risks that existed “historically”, he said, “no longer exist”.
Life sentences can only be given if there is a serious risk to the public and the court cannot decide when that risk will end. Advocate Blakeley said that risk could be dealt with through provisional orders.
Handing down the sentence, Commissioner Oldland said: “We need to ask ourselves whether you currently pose a serious risk to the public – we have no hesitation in concluding that you do.”
“In particular, because first, your sexual interest in teenage girls has persisted into your late 40s, as much is clear from the images found on your devices in 2021.”
He cited “similarities” between all of the cases and added: “You do not accept that you have done anything wrong. You have no insight into your offending.”
Bester may only be released after he has served a minimum of 15 years, and if a panel constituted of the Bailiff and two Jurats allow it.
He will be on licence for the rest of his life. He was also given restraining and restrictive orders.
Commissioner Andrew Oldland was presiding with Jurats Dulake, Averty, Cornish, Entwistle and Gardener.
Support services
Islanders affected by any of the issues raised in this report can contact any of the following:
- SARC, based at Dewberry House, provides expert, independent and confidential support to victims of sexual abuse. Tel: 888222
- Jersey Action Against Rape (JAAR) provides and maintains a supportive framework for survivors and their families. Confidential helpline: 482800
- Freeda (formerly Jersey Women’s Refuge) offers help and support for victims of domestic abuse. Tel: 0800 7356836
- Jersey Domestic Abuse Support (JDAS) is an independent service developed to protect and support victims of domestic and sexual abuse. Tel: 880505
- Victims First Jersey is a free and independent service offering confidential support to victims and witnesses of crime. Tel: 7351612
- Samaritans provides a confidential, nonjudgmental listening service for people who need to talk. Tel: 116 123 (free from any phone) or 0330 094 5717 (local call charges apply)
