BARRY FINCH SENTENCED TO 14 YEARS FOR RAPE IN BEAUMONT LEYS, LEICESTER

In a case that has spanned nearly two decades, a man named Barry Finch from Beaumont Leys has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 14 years after being convicted of serious sexual offenses against a young girl. The crimes, which took place in the early to mid-1990s, only came to light when the victim, now an adult, summoned the courage to report her ordeal to the police in late 2008.

Leicester Crown Court heard detailed accounts of Finch’s heinous acts, which included the sexual assault of a girl who was only nine years old at the time of her first abuse. The court was informed that Finch, then 44 years old, committed these acts at his residence on Upper Temple Walk in Beaumont Leys. The victim was subjected to two separate incidents of rape when she was approximately 11 or 12 years old, with Finch having sworn her to secrecy and exploiting his position of trust to carry out these acts.

Judge Simon Hammond, presiding over the case, publicly commended the victim for her extraordinary bravery in coming forward and giving evidence against her abuser. The judge emphasized the profound impact of Finch’s actions, stating, “I want to place on record the dignity and courage with which the young woman gave evidence in this case.” He further condemned Finch for his gross abuse of trust, noting that he “stripped the victim of her childhood.”

During the sentencing, it was revealed that Finch’s criminal behavior had caused lifelong damage to the victim. The court heard that he had been convicted in May of two counts of rape and sexual assault. As part of his punishment, Finch was not only sentenced to 14 years in prison but was also subjected to a Sex Offenders Prevention Order. This order prohibits him from having contact with anyone under the age of 17 unless supervised and disqualifies him from working with children for the rest of his life. Additionally, Finch will be registered on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

The victim attended the court hearing to witness her abuser’s sentencing but was visibly distressed, leaving the courtroom sobbing as the details of her suffering were read aloud. In his defense, Finch’s legal representative, Paul Wakerley, argued that his client had limited intellectual capacity and had never used threats or violence against the victim.

Following the sentencing, the victim’s mother expressed her pride and gratitude, stating, “I am very proud of my daughter. I just want to thank the police and courts for what they have done. He got what he deserved for what he did to my daughter.” Detective Constable Beverley Toon, from Leicestershire Police’s Child Abuse Investigation Unit, praised the victim’s resilience, saying, “I pay tribute to the victim, who has shown immense bravery throughout the judicial process. This was a very traumatic time for her. I have the deepest respect and admiration for her and hope that this sentence brings some comfort and closure.”

Detective Toon also reaffirmed the police force’s commitment to protecting children, stating, “The Child Abuse Investigation Unit works closely with social services to ensure that the children of Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland are protected from harm. As a force, we are committed to putting sex offenders before the courts. The sentence passed down today demonstrates how seriously the authorities take these crimes.”