CHRISTOPHER BARR FROM HERSHAM JAILED AFTER REPEATED OFFENSES INVOLVING CHILD SEXUAL MATERIALS IN WOKING AND GUILDFORD

In a case that highlights ongoing concerns about the safety of children and the enforcement of sexual harm prevention measures, Christopher Barr, a man residing in Hersham, was sentenced to two years in prison for breaching the terms of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Mr. Barr, aged 42 and living at Rodwell Court in Hersham, appeared before Guildford Crown Court last week to face the consequences of his repeated violations of court-imposed restrictions. His criminal history stretches back to 2007, with convictions related to the creation and possession of indecent images of children, as well as possession of extreme images involving animals. These previous convictions also included breaches of his Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO), which was designed to restrict his access to the internet and prevent any form of communication that could facilitate the sexual abuse of minors.

Following a conviction in 2013 for additional indecent image offenses, Mr. Barr was subjected to a SOPO that explicitly prohibited him from accessing the internet and engaging in any written or spoken communication concerning the sexual exploitation of children. Despite these restrictions, authorities discovered that he had continued to offend, breaching the order multiple times. The Surrey Police’s Paedophile Online Investigation Team, working in conjunction with CEOP (the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children), received intelligence indicating that an individual, believed to be using false identities, was exchanging suspected indecent images online and had expressed a sexual interest in children.

Using this information, officers identified Mr. Barr as the suspect. They promptly executed a search warrant at his residence, seizing several electronic devices for examination. Although he was released pending further inquiries, police reports indicate that Mr. Barr persisted in his offending behavior, employing false details to conceal his identity during online activities.

His continued violations eventually led to his arrest. He faced multiple charges, including five counts of breaching his SHPO and failing to comply with notification requirements. Detective Constable Steve Branch, who was involved in the case, emphasized the seriousness of Mr. Barr’s conduct, describing it as a “blatant violation” of the protective orders meant to safeguard children. He stated, “The conditions of Barr’s SHPO were clearly defined and he has breached them repeatedly on several different occasions.”

In a separate incident dating back to February 2013, Mr. Barr, then 36 and living at Bridge Close in Woking (formerly of Hersham Road, Walton), was convicted of possessing indecent images of children and extreme pornography involving animals. At Guildford Crown Court, he received a sentence of 12 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, along with a community order requiring 36 months of supervision and participation in a sex offenders’ group work program.

During that trial, prosecutors revealed that Barr had eight charges against him. Six of these involved the possession of 15 indecent images of children, ranging from Category One to Category Four, with Category Five being the most severe. Additionally, he was found to have 69 extreme pornographic images depicting sexual acts with animals—comprising 52 photographs and 17 videos—which had been deleted from his laptop but were recovered during forensic analysis. The eighth charge involved creating these images in violation of an earlier sexual offences prevention order issued in December 2007.

Barr pleaded guilty to all charges. Prosecutor Richard Bendall recounted that Barr had befriended a woman via an online dating site and had sent her a disturbing photograph of a child's erect penis. When police arrived at his residence on November 17, 2011, Barr reportedly threw his laptop out of a window in an attempt to destroy evidence. The device was subsequently seized for examination.

Judge Addison, presiding over the case, remarked on the unusual nature of the case, noting the relatively small number of images involved but emphasizing Barr’s breach of the 2007 order. The judge sentenced Barr to a total of 12 months’ imprisonment, with the sentences for each charge to run concurrently, meaning he would serve only one year if he reoffended within the two-year suspended period. The court also imposed a new, indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which restricts Barr from using any device capable of internet access unless explicitly authorized by police.

Throughout the proceedings, Barr only confirmed his identity and acknowledged his understanding of the sentence. He had previously pleaded not guilty to nine charges in November 2012, but those charges were later quashed. The court’s actions underscore the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to monitor and restrict individuals with a history of sexual offenses against children, aiming to prevent further harm and protect vulnerable members of society.