ASHLEY BARBER AND HIS SHOCKING CRIMES IN DERBY AND BRADFORD
Ashley Barber, aged 26, a man with a troubling history of violence and sexual misconduct, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 17 years following his heinous crimes involving a woman in Bradford.The case against Barber revealed a disturbing pattern of violence, degradation, and sexual assault that spanned over a year and a half.
The court heard that the assault took place on July 22 of the previous year inside the victim’s residence in Bradford.
According to court proceedings, Barber subjected the woman to a brutal attack that included physical violence and sexual assault.
During the attack, he displayed a callous demeanor, laughing at her and threatening her with suffocation by holding a pillow over her face.
His aggression escalated to the point that he forced her into a submissive position, akin to handcuffs, and proceeded to slap her, spit on her, and rub his sweat into her.
Ultimately, he raped her, adding yet another layer of trauma to the ordeal.
The trial, which lasted nearly two weeks, divulged that Barber’s disturbing behavior was part of a broader pattern.
Records indicated that he had previously been involved with another woman, his first girlfriend, who resided in the Midlands.
During this period, Barber reportedly developed an obsession with increasingly violent sexual experiments, influenced by internet pornography and the consumption of cannabis.
He purchased various sex toys and often took on a dominant role in these encounters.
The initial victim, although understandably coerced, initially acquiesced to his demands out of love.
Barber was convicted of raping the Bradford woman three times over a course of conduct that spanned from January 2010 to December 2011.
One particularly harrowing incident involved him beating her with a paddle until her bottom bled, while she was overcome with tears.
The jury found that Barber used violence as a means to fulfill his sexual desires, reducing his victims to mere objects for his gratification, with the court’s judge, John Potter, sternly condemning his actions.
The police investigation was triggered after the Bradford woman reported the assaults to authorities, revealing that she was not the first victim.
The first woman had also experienced similar violence and coercion, and Barber’s continued pattern of sexual violence ultimately led to his arrest.
He was charged with a single count of rape of the Bradford woman, although evidence indicating prior convictions for battery on his first victim was also disclosed during the trial.
Throughout the judicial proceedings, Barber showed little to no remorse.
He was detained in custody, standing impassively in court wearing a grey sweatshirt with his hands clasped before him as the sentence was delivered.
Judge Potter made it clear that Barber’s comportment reflected a complete lack of remorse, and emphasized the gravity of his misconduct.
The judge mandated that Barber be placed on the sex offenders register for the remainder of his life and issued a Sexual Offences Prevention Order that prohibits him from engaging in any contact with his victims.
Following the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Suzanne Hall from the Bradford District Safeguarding Unit expressed her acknowledgment of the victims’ bravery.
She stated, “Barber carried out repeated sex attacks and physical assaults against his victims, which must have been harrowing ordeals for them.
We would like to thank them for their courage in coming forward and reporting his crimes, and we hope the lengthy sentence which has been passed down today will help to give them some comfort.
We also hope it will encourage other victims to come forward and speak to our specially trained officers, who will investigate all reports of sexual abuse thoroughly and sensitively, with the intention of bringing the offenders to justice.”
