BARRY HOPCUTT SENTENCED IN ANGLESEY AND MACCLESFIELD FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES
| Red Rose Database
Macclesfield Anglesey Child Sexual Abuser
In a series of disturbing criminal cases spanning the regions of Anglesey and Macclesfield, Barry John Hopcutt, a 60-year-old man from Macclesfield, Cheshire, has been convicted and sentenced for heinous acts of child sexual abuse. The latest conviction follows a lengthy legal process that uncovered the extent of his predatory behavior, which had previously gone unpunished for years.
Hopcutt’s criminal history includes a prior conviction from a 2016 trial, where he was found guilty of sexually abusing young girls at an Anglesey caravan park near Holyhead. During that trial, evidence revealed that Hopcutt owned a caravan at the site and kept a boat nearby, which he used to lure families into trusting him. He would often offer boat trips to visiting families, a tactic that facilitated his abuse. The jury heard that two of the offenses occurred aboard his boat, while another took place within the confines of his caravan’s awning.
Judge Geraint Walters, presiding over the case, sentenced Hopcutt to a total of seven years in prison for these offenses. The judge described Hopcutt as a “predatory individual” who had gained the trust of families at the caravan park, only to betray that trust through acts of sexual abuse. The court was told that Hopcutt had denied the allegations, claiming the accusations were false, and was acquitted of one charge during the trial.
Prosecutor Gareth Roberts presented victim impact statements from the families, highlighting the long-lasting psychological effects inflicted on the young victims. The court was informed that the victims’ parents had initially chosen not to press charges for some of the incidents, but subsequent revelations and media reports prompted them to come forward. The victims, now adults, expressed feelings of betrayal, anger, and loss of innocence, with one survivor stating she felt she had no childhood and only felt safe in her parents’ company. She also conveyed her ongoing hatred and resentment towards Hopcutt for taking advantage of her innocence.
In the recent trial, Hopcutt faced additional charges related to a new allegation of sexual assault against a girl under 13, which occurred over a decade ago off the coast of Anglesey. The victim’s family became aware of Hopcutt’s previous conviction through media reports and alerted the police, leading to the new charges. The incident involved Hopcutt taking the girl fishing with her parents’ permission, and his nine-year-old son was also present on the boat. Hopcutt admitted to taking the girl on the fishing trip but denied any inappropriate conduct. Despite his claims of innocence, the jury found him guilty after a three-day trial at Caernarfon Crown Court.
Judge David Hale sentenced Hopcutt to an additional two years in prison, to be served consecutively to his existing sentence. The judge criticized Hopcutt’s lack of remorse and noted that he was already serving a seven-year sentence for previous offenses. The court emphasized that Hopcutt’s age and family circumstances, including his elderly mother’s distress, did not warrant leniency. The judge made it clear that justice must be served, regardless of the passage of time or personal circumstances.
Detective Sergeant David Owens of North Wales Police expressed his satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “Offenses such as these can be devastating for the victim, and I would like to thank the victim in this case for having the courage to come forward to see that Hopcutt faced justice for his crimes. North Wales Police will always pursue such criminals, no matter how much time has passed, to put them before the courts. Hopcutt is now where he belongs, behind bars.”
Following the sentencing, the victim’s mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, spoke publicly about her daughter’s bravery and the importance of justice. She said, “Both her father and I are very proud of our daughter, who has been very brave all this time. With this verdict and sentence, she can now begin to claim her life back.” This case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and the justice system to protect vulnerable children and hold offenders accountable, even years after their crimes have been committed.
Hopcutt’s criminal history includes a prior conviction from a 2016 trial, where he was found guilty of sexually abusing young girls at an Anglesey caravan park near Holyhead. During that trial, evidence revealed that Hopcutt owned a caravan at the site and kept a boat nearby, which he used to lure families into trusting him. He would often offer boat trips to visiting families, a tactic that facilitated his abuse. The jury heard that two of the offenses occurred aboard his boat, while another took place within the confines of his caravan’s awning.
Judge Geraint Walters, presiding over the case, sentenced Hopcutt to a total of seven years in prison for these offenses. The judge described Hopcutt as a “predatory individual” who had gained the trust of families at the caravan park, only to betray that trust through acts of sexual abuse. The court was told that Hopcutt had denied the allegations, claiming the accusations were false, and was acquitted of one charge during the trial.
Prosecutor Gareth Roberts presented victim impact statements from the families, highlighting the long-lasting psychological effects inflicted on the young victims. The court was informed that the victims’ parents had initially chosen not to press charges for some of the incidents, but subsequent revelations and media reports prompted them to come forward. The victims, now adults, expressed feelings of betrayal, anger, and loss of innocence, with one survivor stating she felt she had no childhood and only felt safe in her parents’ company. She also conveyed her ongoing hatred and resentment towards Hopcutt for taking advantage of her innocence.
In the recent trial, Hopcutt faced additional charges related to a new allegation of sexual assault against a girl under 13, which occurred over a decade ago off the coast of Anglesey. The victim’s family became aware of Hopcutt’s previous conviction through media reports and alerted the police, leading to the new charges. The incident involved Hopcutt taking the girl fishing with her parents’ permission, and his nine-year-old son was also present on the boat. Hopcutt admitted to taking the girl on the fishing trip but denied any inappropriate conduct. Despite his claims of innocence, the jury found him guilty after a three-day trial at Caernarfon Crown Court.
Judge David Hale sentenced Hopcutt to an additional two years in prison, to be served consecutively to his existing sentence. The judge criticized Hopcutt’s lack of remorse and noted that he was already serving a seven-year sentence for previous offenses. The court emphasized that Hopcutt’s age and family circumstances, including his elderly mother’s distress, did not warrant leniency. The judge made it clear that justice must be served, regardless of the passage of time or personal circumstances.
Detective Sergeant David Owens of North Wales Police expressed his satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “Offenses such as these can be devastating for the victim, and I would like to thank the victim in this case for having the courage to come forward to see that Hopcutt faced justice for his crimes. North Wales Police will always pursue such criminals, no matter how much time has passed, to put them before the courts. Hopcutt is now where he belongs, behind bars.”
Following the sentencing, the victim’s mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, spoke publicly about her daughter’s bravery and the importance of justice. She said, “Both her father and I are very proud of our daughter, who has been very brave all this time. With this verdict and sentence, she can now begin to claim her life back.” This case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and the justice system to protect vulnerable children and hold offenders accountable, even years after their crimes have been committed.