GRAHAM POTTER AND DAMIEN BARKER: HORRIFIC CHILD ABUSE IN DAGENHAM AND CUSTOM HOUSE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the communities of Dagenham and Custom House, two brothers have been convicted and sentenced for heinous acts of child abuse that spanned over two years. Graham Potter, aged 40, and his half-brother Damien Barker, aged 22, were found guilty of engaging in a prolonged and systematic campaign of sexual violence against young children, including a boy and a girl as young as five years old.

Graham Potter was sentenced to an indefinite term of imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to a series of sex crimes. His offenses include acts committed against a young boy and girl in the late 1990s, revealing a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior that has persisted over many years. The court ordered that Potter serve a minimum of seven years before he can be considered for parole, though his indefinite sentence reflects the severity of his crimes and the risk he poses to society.

Damien Barker, who resides in Custom House, was sentenced to seven years in prison. It was revealed during the trial that Barker has a reading age equivalent to that of a five-year-old, highlighting concerns about his mental capacity and the vulnerability of his victims. Barker’s involvement in the abuse was part of the same disturbing series of events that took place between February 2005 and March 2007, during which he and Potter jointly assaulted a boy and a girl.

The case also involved Sharon Day, aged 40, who was Potter’s partner. She denied participating in the gang sexual assaults but admitted to child cruelty charges. Her actions resulted in a ten-month jail sentence, which was suspended for two years. The court heard that Potter had admitted to harboring “deviant sexual fantasies” about pre-pubescent girls, further underscoring the depravity of his conduct.

During the proceedings at Snaresbrook Crown Court, it was detailed how Potter repeatedly forced himself upon a young girl, threatening to kill her if she tried to escape. He also assaulted a seven-year-old boy, adding to the list of victims subjected to his predatory behavior. The court was told that Potter’s crimes were committed over a period of two years, involving multiple victims and demonstrating a pattern of sexual depravity that the judge described as “on a huge scale.”