DAVID BARNES FROM BURY CAUGHT IN MAJOR PAEDOPHILE STING IN MANCHESTER CITY CENTRE
In August 2021, a disturbing incident unfolded in Manchester city centre involving a man from Bury named David Barnes.The case came to light when paedophile hunters successfully apprehended Barnes after he made arrangements to meet what he believed was a 14-year-old girl for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity.
Barnes, aged 59, arrived at Piccadilly Gardens expecting to meet the young girl he had been grooming online.
However, he was met with an unexpected and humiliating confrontation.
Instead of the minor he thought he was communicating with, Barnes was confronted by a decoy operated by a paedophile hunter group.
The group involved was the Predators Exposed Sting Team, which works to catch individuals attempting to exploit minors.
Police officers were also present at the scene and promptly arrested Barnes.
The court proceedings revealed that Barnes had engaged in sexualised conversations with the decoy, during which he expressed intentions to take her virginity.
The court heard that Barnes had explicitly discussed sexual activities and had made comments indicating he would like to spend time with her, including kissing her all over her body.
Prosecutors highlighted that Barnes was fully aware that the girl was only 14 years old, and he was aware of her vulnerable circumstances, including her mother’s alcoholism and the death of her father several years prior.
During the online chats, Barnes made inappropriate remarks, including stating that kissing her was not a crime and discussing the possibility of sexual activity once she turned 16.
He also expressed a wish that she was 16 so he could take her virginity.
At one point, Barnes asked if she would wait for him, indicating his desire to meet her in person.
The girl, in turn, expressed nervousness about the meeting, to which Barnes responded with a dismissive attitude, saying, “Ok leave it sweet, it’s up to you.” Despite her apprehensions, a meeting was scheduled for June of the previous year, with the intention of Barnes meeting the girl in Piccadilly Gardens.
In the days leading up to this planned encounter, their conversations became increasingly sexual and explicit, as noted by the prosecution.
When Barnes arrived at the designated location, he was met with a 'fairly unwelcome reception' from the decoy team.
His attempt to meet the minor was thwarted, leading to his arrest.
Barnes subsequently pleaded guilty to charges of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to meet a child following grooming.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge John Edwards addressed Barnes directly.
He noted that Barnes was a mature man with no convictions since 2006 and no prior sexual offences.
The judge acknowledged that Barnes was entrapped and humiliated in the process, believing he was about to meet a real girl.
However, he emphasized that Barnes had exploited the vulnerability of the girl, which made his actions very serious.
The judge sentenced Barnes to 16 months in prison.
As part of his sentence, Barnes, who represented himself during the hearing, was ordered to sign the sex offender register for ten years.
Additionally, a sexual harm prevention order was imposed for the same duration, aiming to restrict his future contact and prevent further offences.
