LAURENCE BARWICK FROM LEYTONSTONE AND LUTTERWORTH SENTENCED FOR 1991 RAPE OF TWO GIRLS

In a case that spanned over a decade, Laurence Barwick, a man with no fixed address, was finally brought to justice for a heinous sexual assault that occurred in 1991. The incident involved two young girls, both just 10 years old at the time, who were attacked while playing in a woodland den located in Leytonstone, East London. The assault left a lasting impact on the victims, who are now 25 years old and have chosen to remain unnamed to protect their privacy.

Barwick's arrest in December 2005 marked a significant breakthrough in the case, which had remained unresolved for many years. The breakthrough came as a result of advancements in DNA profiling technology. The Metropolitan Police's Cold Case unit re-examined the original evidence from the 1991 investigation, upgrading the DNA samples and running them through a national police database. This process ultimately led to a direct match with Barwick, who was subsequently detained in Lutterworth, Leicestershire, where he was living at the time.

During the court proceedings, the prosecution, led by Sandy Canavan, detailed the horrifying events. It was revealed that the two girls had been playing in the woodland den during their school half-term break when Barwick unexpectedly entered the area. He forced the girls to strip and subjected one of them to a sexual assault. The other girl, terrified, managed to run away screaming, while Barwick fled the scene on his bicycle. Despite a manhunt, he was never located at the time, and the case remained on file for years.

However, the re-examination of evidence in 2005 changed everything. The DNA match provided irrefutable proof of Barwick's involvement. Det Con Peter Walker expressed the gravity of the crime, stating, “These girls were innocently playing and Barwick took their innocence away.”

It was also disclosed that Barwick had a troubling criminal history, including convictions for grievous bodily harm (GBH), indecent exposure to an 11-year-old girl, assaulting his partner, and abducting his four-month-old daughter. These prior convictions underscored a pattern of violent and predatory behavior.

Judge Henry Blacksell, presiding over the case at Middlesex Guildhall, sentenced Barwick to life imprisonment. The judge emphasized the severity of the crime, describing the attack as a “living hell” for the young victims. Additionally, Barwick was ordered to be placed on the sex offenders’ register for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to protect the community from further harm.