Rapist who claimed he was friends with Leonardo DiCaprio finally brought to justice 20 years after knifepoint attack
New DNA technology linked him to the crime
A RAPIST who boasted in court about his celebrity connections is facing jail.
Pierre Bate, 42, broke into his victim's home in London in 1996 and repeatedly assaulted her as he threatened to kill her and harm her two children.
Bate, originally from California, was not linked to the crime until 2011 after improvements in DNA technology and was extradited to the UK earlier this year to face trial.
He denied the charges of rape and burglary but was convicted today and will be sentenced next month.
Judge Jeffrey Pegden QC told him: “You have been convicted by unanimous verdicts of this jury on the basis of what appears to me to be plain and compelling evidence that you committed these rapes and this burglary.
"You face the gravest sentence imaginable and a very very long sentence of imprisonment."
When the judge told the court he was adjourning sentencing until next month, Bate shrugged his shoulders and said "Oh wow, thanks";.
He added: "This is a kangaroo court - this has been an absolute joke."
During the trial Bate had insisted he was the victim of a 'perfect storm' and had boasted of his links to Hollywood stars.
He called former Jamiroquai drummer Nick Van Gelder to give evidence in his defence.
The musician seemed to confirm that they had partied with Leonardo DiCaprio.
Bate also claimed to have dated Australian singer Natalie Imbruglia, though that has not been confirmed.
After the verdicts were announced, the court heard an impact statement from the victim.
She spoke of how the rapes had affected her physical and mental health, and thanks DS Karen Gradley who had helped her through the case since 2011.
She wrote: "I was numb, vacant, scared and angry.
"It has been 20 years of insomnia - sleep deprivation is torture.
"It has changed me as a person - I was always happy, outgoing and had plans but since this I have become a recluse.
"This man has ruined my life and the lives of my children for the last 20 years.
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"I have never felt safe or relaxed since the day this man chose to rape me and assault me."
Bates was 22 years old and lived 100 yards away at the time of the attack.
The jury heard how the woman had noticed a number of strange things happening in the days leading up to the attack in July 1996.
She found her patio doors open, a kitchen knife next to her bed and noticed a box of Rice Krispies was missing.
She was so scared that she stored a knife in her bedroom for fear of attack.
James Dawes, prosecuting, said: "Twenty years ago now on July 22nd 1996 a violent and brutal rape was committed by a burglar, a house burglar, on a woman who was asleep in her home.
"It was terrifying - the rapist broke into her house at night and raped her repeatedly in different ways.
"Her children were asleep in the house.
"About 1.15am she rolled over, half asleep, and sensed that something was wrong in the room.
"She opened her eyes and saw a man squatting on her make-up counter, right next to her bed.
"He was a stranger to her and he turned his head and he looked straight at her."
The woman tried to grab the knife but Bate pinned her down on the bed and 'tried to twist her face away so she couldn't see his face'.
He put on a fake Irish accent and told her to do what he said because his friend was with her children.
He then repeatedly raped the victim but refused to answer when she asked why it was happening.
At one point he told her: "I would love to have this conversation but I can't, my pet.
"If it had been in different circumstances."
Bate was finally linked to the attack after a further sample taken from the scene was tested as part of routine procedure for unsolved cases.
Mr Dawes continued: "It was compared against the reference sample for Pierre Bate and there was a direct match with Mr Bate."
"In the opinion of the scientist it is one billion times more likely that the person who put that semen there was Pierre Bate."
Bate, who has a previous conviction for indecent assault, will be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on August 12.
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