IAN BARKER SCOUT LEADER FROM ISLINGTON SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AT LOCAL CAMP

In November 2017, Ian Barker, a former scout leader from Islington, was sentenced to ten years in prison after being convicted of sexually abusing two young boys during scout activities. Barker, who resided on Queen’s Head Street in Islington, faced multiple charges related to his misconduct that spanned from the late 1970s into the 1980s. Initially, Barker denied eight counts of sexual assault, but on the third day of his trial, he changed his plea and admitted to six of those charges.

Among the admitted charges were one count of indecent assault with penetration involving a boy under the age of 14, another count of indecent assault on a boy under 14, and four counts of indecency with children. The court heard disturbing details of Barker’s abuse, which included taking one of the scouts into a field during a camp and forcing him to pose naked. On another occasion, Barker penetrated the boy, further compounding the severity of his crimes. Additionally, Barker was accused of making the boy pose naked in a cupboard during a group meeting at All Hallows in Hampstead, an incident that added to the gravity of his offenses.

At the time of the abuse, Barker was in his late teens, and his victims were both under 14 years old. The first victim, who provided evidence in court on a Tuesday, recounted his traumatic experience after jurors watched a video of his police interview. In his testimony, he described being led into a field by Barker while other boys were asleep at the camp. The victim expressed confusion over Barker’s actions, questioning how such behavior could be related to earning merit badges. He recalled Barker asking him to adopt specific poses to expose himself, including leaning over to show his backside and leaning back to reveal his groin area.

The victim further explained that he told Barker he was cold, and Barker instructed him to return to his tent and not speak about what had happened. However, he revealed that during a subsequent encounter, Barker raped him. Although Barker was charged with buggery, he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of indecent assault with penetration. The victim described Barker covering his mouth during the assault, asking him to bend over, and breathing heavily as he felt pain between his buttocks. The assault lasted approximately three or four minutes before Barker withdrew. The victim was then told to pull up his pants and remain silent about the incident.

The following morning, as parents arrived to collect their children, prizes were awarded for various achievements. The victim recalled Barker specifically selecting him for a prize, which heightened his feelings of shame and embarrassment. He described feeling an urgent desire to leave the scene as quickly as possible. After confiding in his parents about some of the abuse, they reported Barker to the scout leaders, who assured them that Barker would no longer be allowed to work within the organization.

During his court testimony, the victim, who was now 56, broke down while recounting the abuse. He revealed that he had been in therapy for decades, struggling with issues related to intimacy as a result of Barker’s actions. His decision to come forward was prompted by watching a news segment about a solicitor offering help to victims of child abuse within the scouts. When questioned by Barker’s lawyer, Rose Burns, about why he waited until 2014 to report the abuse, the victim explained that the trauma was overwhelming and that he had repressed many memories. He also stated that he was silenced by Barker and his parents, which delayed his reporting.

He emphasized that therapy over the years had helped him understand the impact of the abuse, but that the process of reporting was extremely difficult. The victim expressed frustration that the justice system relies heavily on witnesses providing clear and corroborated evidence, which can be challenging for victims of such traumatic experiences. He acknowledged that he should have reported the abuse earlier but was not in a position to do so due to the trauma and silencing he endured.

In addition to the sexual assaults, the victim recounted how Barker engaged the scouts in games of hide and seek and observation activities within the church hall. He revealed that Barker would often get the boys to swap items of clothing under the guise of developing their observation skills, but in reality, it was a pretext for taking their clothes off. The victim described these activities as grooming tactics used by Barker to make the boys comfortable with undressing in front of him, always claiming it was related to earning merit badges.

Barker was arrested in May 2015 and initially denied the allegations during police interviews. Following an extensive investigation that involved reviewing historical records and interviewing witnesses, authorities identified a second victim from the same scout troupe. Barker’s actions, which spanned several years, left a lasting impact on his victims, leading to his conviction and subsequent sentencing to a decade behind bars.