FRANK BARHAM OF ELLESMERE PORT SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE IN CHESTER

In November 2019, a disturbing case unfolded at Chester Crown Court involving Frank Barham, a veteran driving instructor from Ellesmere Port, who was found guilty of sexually abusing six women over a span of 17 years during driving lessons. The court heard how Barham, aged 69 at the time, exploited his position of trust and the vulnerability of his victims, many of whom were young women seeking to learn how to drive.

Judge Patrick Thompson delivered a stern sentence, condemning Barham as a 'predator' who concealed a dark secret beneath his public persona. The judge emphasized that despite Barham’s decorated military background, his actions revealed a different, sinister side. The former soldier, who served for 22 years in the British Army, was branded 'remorseless' and was sentenced to eight years in prison for his crimes.

The court detailed the heinous nature of Barham’s offenses, which included inappropriate touching, groping, and sexual assault. One of his most serious crimes involved abusing a teenage girl, who was so traumatized by the experience that she ended up living homeless on the streets and engaging in self-harm. The court heard that Barham had once groped the inner thigh of a victim and had placed his hand inside the bra of another woman during lessons.

Further allegations revealed that Barham had stuck his hand down a teenager’s knickers while she was driving along a country lane near Hooton, just outside Merseyside. On another occasion, a woman recounted how Barham hugged her and slapped her bottom on the day she was taking her driving test. Additionally, one victim described how Barham suggested she wear lacy red knickers as a 'lucky charm' for her test day, a comment that added to the disturbing pattern of his misconduct.

Barham, who operated the now-defunct Frank’s School of Motoring, denied all allegations, claiming that physical contact was part of his teaching method. However, the jury rejected his defense, finding that his actions were sexual in nature. His plea that taps and prods were merely instructional was dismissed as false.

The court noted that Barham’s wife stood by him during the proceedings. Despite this, the evidence presented was overwhelming, leading to his conviction on three counts of sexual assault and nine counts of indecent assault. Judge Thompson highlighted that the offenses spanned nearly two decades and involved six women who trusted him as their instructor. The judge pointed out that the victims, especially a vulnerable teenage girl, confided in Barham about personal issues, which he exploited for his own gratification.

One of the most egregious acts involved digital penetration of a teenage girl, with other instances of sexual molestation. The judge described how each victim suffered a profound loss of trust, and how Barham’s dual identity—respected army officer and predatory abuser—was a stark contrast.

Many of the victims attended the sentencing, some visibly emotional, as they saw justice finally served. It was also revealed that years earlier, women had previously complained about Barham’s inappropriate behavior, but police investigations at that time resulted in a collapsed case or a hung jury. The media coverage of those earlier incidents prompted two additional women to come forward with allegations of molestation.

Barham attempted to justify his actions by claiming he would apologize to students for any accidental touching, asserting that it was not sexual. These claims were dismissed as lies by the court. During the trial, Barham admitted to sending a text message calling one girl 'sexy,' which he immediately recognized as inappropriate and apologized for.

A particularly disturbing account involved a woman who described how Barham groped her while she was changing gears, using the opportunity to touch her breasts inside her bra. She insisted this happened regularly. Another victim recounted how Barham, in his 50s at the time, often made suggestive remarks about her appearance and piercings, and on one occasion, drove her to a secluded spot where he sexually assaulted her. She described feeling terrified, staring out the window and clutching the steering wheel as the abuse occurred over several minutes, with Barham making lewd comments.

Further accounts detailed how Barham would make inappropriate remarks about her driving and appearance, even when her child was present in the back seat. One victim described how he touched her under the guise of teaching her clutch control, placing his finger near her crotch during lessons. She recounted feeling shaken and pushed his hand away, eventually confiding in her partner and police after the incident.

Barham was arrested and interviewed but denied all allegations, leading to initial police inaction. However, subsequent complaints and evidence led to his conviction. Throughout the proceedings, Barham’s defense attempted to downplay his actions, but the court was unpersuaded.

Judge Thompson praised the bravery of the six women who came forward, acknowledging their courage in breaking the cycle of abuse. As Barham was taken into custody, the courtroom was filled with emotion, with some victims shedding tears, finally witnessing justice being served for the years of suffering inflicted by the once-respected instructor from Ellesmere Port.