A 78-YEAR-OLD FROM LUTON HAS BEEN PUT BEHIND BARS FOR HIS ABUSE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS, DATING BACK TO THE LATE 1980S.
Barry Tatum, residing on Regis Road, was reported to Bedfordshire Police in August 2017 following a report from one of his victims regarding sexual abuse.Tatum was detained by authorities, and as the investigation unfolded, police identified seven additional victims of different ages, all recounting abuse dating back to the late 1980s.
He faced 23 charges in total, and after a five-week trial at Luton Crown Court in August, he was convicted on 16 counts, including five of indecent assault, six of sexual assault, three involving victims under 13, and two related to the production of indecent images of children.
On Thursday, Tatum received a prison sentence of 10 years, with an extra three years on licence.
The court also issued a restraining order and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
The judge described his conduct as a sustained campaign of abuse and noted that Tatum showed no remorse.
Detective Constable Matt McCarthy commented, “For three decades Tatum groomed and abused the trust of many innocent women and girls, acting in a persistently predatory manner and subjecting them to wholly inappropriate sexual abuse.
“This verdict is a testament to the bravery and resilience of the victims who came forward and shared their experiences.
“Their courage has ensured that a dangerous offender has now been brought to justice.
We hope this outcome brings some measure of closure and reassurance to them and to the wider community.
“We work hard to tackle all forms of sexual abuse.
Please remember it’s never too late to speak out.
Our specialist teams carry out many investigations like this one and have successfully brought many perpetrators to justice, whilst ensuring the victim has the support they need.
“When you are ready, our officers are there to listen and your voice will be heard.” Lawyer Paul Robson from the Crown Prosecution Service stated, “The strong testimonies of the victims were central to our case and to securing Tatum’s conviction.
“Not only did these women come forward to report him, but they also showed great courage by giving their accounts in court, despite everything they had been through.
As a result, Tatum will now serve time in prison for his crimes.
“We would like to thank the victims for their support through this process.
We also recognise the outstanding work of the police, barristers, and other professionals who ensured justice was served.”
