DURHAM MAN SENTENCED AFTER CHILD SEX OFFENCES
“He is a cruel, evil, manipulative sex offender who is never going to hurt anyone again.I am no longer a victim, I am a survivor.” These are the words of a brave woman who survived the abuse of Michael Barker, who has today been jailed for 23 years.
Barker, 72, currently of Albert Hill, Durham but previously of Swindon, was found guilty last year of six counts of indecent assault, two counts of rape and gross indecency with a child.
Today, he appeared at Swindon Crown Court for sentencing following a lengthy investigation by our Child Abuse Investigation Team.
Barker’s offending occurred between 1974 and 1997, at various addresses in Swindon, Chippenham and Bishop Auckland.
He sexually assaulted young girls who were known to him and trusted him.
In an impact statement supplied to the court, one of the women he abused said: “He abused me from a very young age, took away my childhood, my innocence and part of my adult life.
I suffered horrific nightmares where I would wake up crying, a fear of being alone in my own home.
After many years of torment and fear and pushing the past years to the back of my head, the truth finally came out.
I had to accept that I was going to have to tell strangers the most horrific life I had endured for years.
It made me feel constantly sick but deep down I knew I had to for myself and the other victims.” Det Con Nicola Ainsley said: “First and foremost, I would like to praise the victims in this case, who have endured incredibly traumatic experiences but despite this, found the courage to report Barker’s behaviour to police.
This case is another example of why it is so important to get in touch with police if you have been a victim of rape, sexual assault, or any other sexual offence, regardless of how much time has passed.
We appreciate that on many occasions, reporting it to police may well be the first time victims have ever spoken to anyone about their ordeal.
“The bravery of the victims has enabled us to ensure Barker was put before the courts where they reached a guilty verdict, and today, he was given a 23-year prison sentence.
I am really hopeful that this lengthy sentence will provide some form of closure for the victims, however, I know that this level of sustained abuse on people at such a young age is something that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.
“Barker is an abhorrent individual – he abused these young girls, often in their own homes where they should have felt most safe, subsequently robbing them of their childhoods.
His behaviour escalated over the years and when charged, he continued to deny any wrongdoing, forcing the case to go to trial and causing further distress to his victims.”
