BARRY COLEMAN EXMOUTH AND LYNTON PAEDOPHILE SENTENCED REDUCED BY JUDGE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the communities of Exmouth and Lynton, Barry Tyrone Coleman, a 67-year-old former school caretaker, has seen his prison sentence significantly reduced after a lengthy legal appeal. Originally sentenced to 24 years and eight months at Exeter Crown Court for a series of heinous child sex offences, Coleman’s punishment was later slashed to 18 years by the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Thomas, who described the original term as 'manifestly excessive.'

Coleman, who resided in Woodland Dell, Barbrook, Lynton, was apprehended following an investigation into his connections with another notorious paedophile, Graham Godbeer. The police uncovered a disturbing network of communication and shared illegal material between the two men, revealing a pattern of depraved behavior involving the exploitation and abuse of children.

The court heard that Coleman had engaged in exchanging vile images of child abuse with Godbeer and had provided advice on how to groom children for sexual purposes. The investigation was triggered when authorities looked into Godbeer’s activities, who was accused of multiple sex attacks. During this inquiry, law enforcement officials discovered that Coleman and Godbeer had substantial contact, exchanging indecent images and engaging in frequent text message conversations discussing sexual acts involving minors.

One particularly alarming detail was that Coleman had met Godbeer after leaving his telephone number in a public toilet, a method often used by predators to establish contact discreetly. The messages exchanged between them included explicit discussions about abusing children, with some messages explicitly indicating that Coleman himself had committed abuse against a girl. This victim was eventually located and provided a harrowing account of her ordeal, describing the abuse she suffered at Coleman’s hands.

Further evidence revealed hundreds of images of child pornography stored on Coleman’s computer equipment. He admitted to two rapes, two other serious sexual offences, and nine crimes involving illegal pornography. The court was told that Coleman’s actions demonstrated a deeply entrenched and dangerous ideology, with authorities describing him as a highly dangerous individual.

During the sentencing, Coleman’s legal representatives argued that the original sentence was excessively harsh. However, Lord Thomas emphasized that the judge was justified in finding Coleman to be a significant threat to the public. Despite reducing the prison term to 18 years, the court upheld an eight-year period of extended supervision, which Coleman will serve after his release.

Graham Godbeer, who was also involved in the abuse network, was sentenced in January of the previous year to 16 years in prison for his own series of offences, including the sexual abuse of children and possession of child pornography.

In a separate but related case, Coleman’s disturbing history dates back to the 1970s and 1980s, when he admitted to raping a girl aged between five and 16. His crimes spanned decades, and he boasted about past offences, including how he had used grooming techniques similar to those he advised others to use. His communications with Godbeer included detailed instructions on how to manipulate and blackmail young victims, some as young as ten years old.

Police investigations uncovered that Coleman had a significant collection of child abuse images, some involving animals, and that he had used various devices to store and distribute this material. His mobile phone contacts with Godbeer alone spanned over 20 pages of messages, revealing a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior.

Despite claims from his defense that memory loss from a tractor accident in the 1960s and past trauma as an ambulance driver contributed to his actions, the court found the evidence of his depravity to be overwhelming. The case has left a lasting scar on the communities of Exmouth and Lynton, highlighting the ongoing threat posed by individuals like Coleman and Godbeer, who exploited their positions and trust to commit unimaginable crimes against vulnerable children.