KEIGHLEY MAN BARRY MASTERS SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In a case that has shocked the community of Keighley, Barry Masters, a 29-year-old resident of Lawkholme Lane, was sentenced to three years and four months in prison for engaging in sexual activity with a girl aged just 14. The incident, which took place in November 2013, has left a lasting impact on the victim’s family and has raised serious concerns about trust and safety within the community.

According to court proceedings, the teenage girl believed Masters to be a kind and friendly individual. She recounted that he often made her laugh by doing silly things on a trampoline, which contributed to her perception of him as “a really nice man.” However, beneath this facade, Masters exploited her innocence and trust. Prosecutor Andrew Kershaw detailed how Masters, after consuming alcohol, engaged in sexual acts with the girl at his flat, betraying the trust placed in him by the young girl and her family.

The court heard that the girl’s parents were profoundly distressed by Masters’ actions. The girl’s mother confronted Masters after noticing him hugging her daughter, which she found suspicious. During this confrontation, Masters claimed he was merely comforting the girl because she was experiencing trouble at school. Despite this explanation, the truth emerged when the girl’s mother called him a “paedophile,” prompting Masters to admit that he had had sex with her on one occasion.

Masters’ legal representative, Sophie Drake, described the incident as a “one-off, much-regretted” mistake. She emphasized that Masters had lost contact with his own two daughters as a consequence of his actions and expressed his deep remorse and self-loathing. It was also revealed that Masters has struggled with alcohol dependency and has been seeking professional help to reduce his drinking habits.

In sentencing, Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC imposed a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which prohibits Masters from contacting the girl or having any unsupervised contact with girls under the age of 16 indefinitely. Additionally, Masters is required to register as a sex offender, providing details of his residence to the police. The judge highlighted the severity of the crime, stating that Masters had robbed the girl of her childhood and betrayed her trust, causing her parents significant emotional suffering. The court’s decision underscores the importance of protecting vulnerable minors from predators within the community of Keighley.