BARRY HOLLINGSWORTH'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN PEMBROKE DOCK AND TENBY REVEALED

In a series of disturbing incidents spanning several years, Barry Hollingsworth, a registered sex offender from Pembroke Dock and Tenby, has been involved in multiple criminal acts that have shocked the local communities and prompted serious legal repercussions.

Most recently, in June 2016, Hollingsworth, aged 74 and residing on Meyrick Street in Pembroke Dock, was convicted of exposing himself in front of a mother and her eight-year-old daughter while they were shopping at the Original Factory Shop located in Charles Street, Milford Haven. The incident took place around 1:30 pm on Wednesday, June 1, and marked the second lewd act he committed within a span of seven months. His previous offense involved exposing himself to a child at Carmarthen’s St Catherine’s Walk shopping centre in November of the previous year.

During the court hearing at Llanelli Magistrates Court, Hollingsworth pleaded guilty to the charge of causing alarm or distress by exposing his genitals. Prosecutor Sian Vaughan detailed the events, explaining that Hollingsworth was observed moving suspiciously around the store, exhibiting furtive behavior. The incident was witnessed by the mother, who was in the process of her shopping with her daughter. It was during a moment when the girl was trying on shoes that Hollingsworth exposed himself, with his shorts undone. The mother quickly moved her daughter away from him, and he was seen to go behind some clothing racks to readjust his clothing.

Following the incident, Hollingsworth exited the shop, and the mother promptly informed store staff. She then returned to her car, where she saw Hollingsworth near her vehicle. Concerned for her child's safety, she asked a passerby to watch her daughter while she attempted to follow Hollingsworth. She managed to take photographs of him from behind but was unable to catch up as he approached a nearby Peacocks store. The mother expressed her fears that had her child or another unaccompanied child been in the vicinity, Hollingsworth’s intentions could have been more sinister. His fixation appeared to be solely on the daughter, which heightened her concern.

Hollingsworth’s defense lawyer, Ian Hopkins, acknowledged that his client was subject to an order issued in November following the Carmarthen incident. However, he argued that Hollingsworth had not yet fully commenced the community order, which included rehabilitation activities and participation in a sex offender group program. The lawyer contended that custody would not serve Hollingsworth’s rehabilitation needs. Nonetheless, District Judge Nigel Hodkinson emphasized the seriousness of the offense, especially considering the child's age and the location of the incident. The judge also took into account Hollingsworth’s extensive criminal history, which includes convictions for exposure in 1984, indecent assault on a 14-year-old girl in 2004, exposure again in 2009, possession of indecent images in 2009, and another exposure in July of the previous year.

Given his record and the gravity of the latest offense, Judge Hodkinson sentenced Hollingsworth to 20 weeks in prison, with half to be served and the remainder on license. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for the next seven years, pay a victim surcharge of £115, and cover court costs of £85.

Hollingsworth’s criminal history reveals a pattern of disturbing behavior. In December 2015, he was involved in another incident where he exposed himself to an eight-year-old girl in Carmarthen’s St Catherine’s Walk shopping centre. Despite being detained by security, he was spared immediate jail time after his defense highlighted that he had sought help from his GP and recognized he had a significant problem. The court acknowledged his previous convictions, which include exposure, indecent assault, and possession of indecent images, and sentenced him to a community order with rehabilitation activities and sex offender registration for five years.

Further back, in January 2014, Hollingsworth was convicted of grooming and indecently assaulting a six-year-old girl in Pembroke Dock. He was sentenced to two years in prison and was ordered to register as a sex offender for life. His history also includes a 2009 conviction for exposing himself in Tenby, where he was caught in a children’s clothing store with his penis exposed in front of a mother and her children. He was subsequently jailed for six months and placed on the sex offenders register for ten years.

Hollingsworth’s criminal record is extensive, with multiple convictions for similar offenses over the decades, demonstrating a persistent pattern of predatory behavior. His repeated breaches of court orders and ongoing risk to children have led to his classification as a high-risk offender, with authorities emphasizing the importance of monitoring and managing his behavior to prevent further harm. His case remains a stark reminder of the dangers posed by individuals with a long history of sexual offenses, and the ongoing efforts by law enforcement and judicial authorities to protect the public from such offenders.