STUART BARNETT OF SHEPSHED AND WELLSBOROUGH SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND SEXUAL FANTASY CRIMES

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Shepshed and Wellsborough, Stuart Barnett, a former head teacher, was handed a suspended prison sentence after being found guilty of possessing and sharing indecent images of children, as well as writing explicit and disturbing sexual fantasies involving minors.

The incident came to light when Barnett was arrested by police investigating another online paedophile with whom he had been communicating. The investigation revealed that Barnett had used his work computer at Dixie Grammar Junior School, located in Wellsborough near Market Bosworth, to access and download pornographic images depicting young girls. The police operation was part of a broader effort to track down online predators, and during the course of the investigation, officers uncovered that Barnett had also engaged in conversations with another paedophile, with whom he had jointly authored a story describing a 12-year-old girl being raped by a man.

At the age of 48, Barnett, who resides on Fairway Road South in Shepshed, admitted to making and sharing a total of 11 indecent images of girls. Some of these images depicted girls under the age of 13 in sexually explicit poses, a fact that significantly contributed to the severity of his sentencing. The images were accessed using both his office computer at the school and a school-issued laptop, indicating that his criminal activities were carried out during working hours and on school property.

During the hearing at Leicester Crown Court, Judge Philip Head addressed Barnett directly, emphasizing the gravity of his position as a head teacher responsible for the care and education of young children. The judge stated, “You were the headmaster of a school for juniors, having the care of young children. In that position, and using some equipment provided by the school, you acquired 11 images, some of those of girls under the age of 13.”

The court also highlighted the disturbing nature of Barnett’s actions beyond mere possession of images. It was revealed that he had written parts of a rape fantasy story, further demonstrating his disturbing interest in sexual violence against minors. This element was considered an aggravating factor in his sentencing.

Mary Prior, representing Barnett, described her client as a “broken man,” emphasizing the personal toll his actions had taken on his life. She explained that Barnett was once regarded as a pillar of society and an active member of his church community. However, his actions had led to devastating consequences, including the loss of his job, his marriage, and contact with his daughter. Prior added that Barnett’s wife had suffered “enormous humiliation” due to his misconduct, and his daughter was now undergoing counseling to cope with the fallout.

Further details revealed that Barnett had used the internet alias “Uncle David” to communicate with another paedophile from late 2009 until his arrest in May 2010. The Cheshire police tracked his online activities during an investigation into the other man, who was not named in court proceedings. When arrested at his family home near Coalville, Barnett provided a pre-prepared statement claiming, “I have no sexual interest in children whatsoever.”

Despite this denial, he later pleaded guilty to possessing two indecent images of children and distributing nine more. Following his arrest, Barnett was suspended from his teaching position and subsequently left Dixie Grammar Junior School. He assured parents that none of the images involved children from the school, attempting to mitigate the impact of his actions.

In sentencing, Barnett received a ten-week jail term, suspended for two years, meaning he would not serve time unless he reoffended within that period. Additionally, he was ordered to attend a two-year weekly course aimed at preventing re-offending and was prohibited from working with children for five years. Barnett was also placed on the sex offenders’ register and instructed to disclose all his online accounts to police for the next five years, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities.