EXPERT WITNESS FOUND GUILTY OF LYING ABOUT QUALIFICATIONS
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A Leicestershire electronics expert who gave evidence in numerous criminal trials has been found guilty of perjury for lying in court about his qualifications.
Leicester Crown Court was told that Terence James Bates, also known as Jim, was called upon as a witness to support both prosecution and defence cases with his knowledge of computers.
He specialised in cases involving internet child pornography and was a witness called by the defence at the trial of Brian Stevens, the Soham murders detective cleared of child porn offences.
But the Court heard that while the 67-year-old from Nevill Holt, was an undoubted expert in his field, he had not told the truth about his academic background. He claimed, it was alleged, that he had a Bachelor of Science degree in electronic engineering.
Prosecuting, Paul Mitchell said: "This was untrue, and he has subsequently admitted that he in fact has no formal qualifications at all and has never studied at any university."
He added that "To be an expert witness, someone must give an account of his or her qualifications and experience under oath."
Bates was then questioned about a previous appearance as an expert witness when, on October 8 1997, he had been called to give evidence in a case at the Old Bailey, in London. Asked then if he had the degree, the defendant, in the witness box, replied: "That is correct."
Prosecutor Paul Mitchell said that in formal written statements in other cases which did not progress to trial, Bates made the same false claim. In police interviews, he said he thought he was entitled to claim the degree because of his RAF training at the start of his career.
But, at his own trial, the jury at Leicester found Bates guilty on one count of perjury and four counts of making false written statements.
Summing up, Judge Simon Hammond said it was not suggested that Bates's evidence had adversely affected the outcome of any trials.
The defendant will be sentenced next month.
ENDS