YORK PAEDOPHILE BARRY HEPWORTH SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES AND GRAPHIC IMAGES
In May 2016, a disturbing case emerged involving Barry Christopher Hepworth, a 71-year-old resident of Clarence Street in York, who was convicted of possessing and distributing highly illegal and disturbing material related to child abuse.The court heard that Hepworth maintained a vast collection of nearly 7,000 images and videos depicting children as young as two being subjected to sexual abuse.
Among these, 1,047 images were classified as Category A, indicating the most severe form of abuse, including children being raped.
The prosecution, led by Graham O’Sullivan, detailed how Hepworth not only stored these illicit images but also actively engaged in communication with another individual in Stockport.
During this correspondence, Hepworth printed and sent sexual images of children, and he fantasized about sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl.
These exchanges revealed a disturbing pattern of predatory thoughts and intentions.
Hepworth, who previously served time in 1993 for a series of sexual offenses—including attempting to have sex with a girl under 13, indecent assault, and gross indecency with a child under 14—denied having any sexual interest in children.
He claimed that his actions were part of an effort to catch a paedophile, a defense that did not sway the court.
Judge Neil Davey QC addressed Hepworth directly, stating, “Your sexual interest in children continued after your release from prison and plainly continues until this day.
The terms of your sexual correspondence make it plain you are still seeking sexual gratification in respect of your sexual interest in children.” Hepworth pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including one count of distributing indecent images of children, three counts of possessing extreme pornography, and five counts of downloading or possessing indecent images.
As a result, he was sentenced to two years in prison.
Additionally, he was placed under a sexual harm prevention order that restricts his internet use, possession of devices capable of accessing the internet, and communication with children.
His registration on the sex offenders’ register, which began in 2008, was extended by an additional ten years.
The police investigation revealed that after his initial arrest, during which his laptop and computer equipment were confiscated, Hepworth obtained a new laptop and USB sticks.
He continued searching online for more illegal images and downloaded 28 more images across all categories, including the most serious ones.
Further investigations uncovered that Hepworth had contacted a 63-year-old man in Stockport, known as Shana, and sent disturbing fantasies about what he would do to “her” 13-year-old daughter.
The police in Greater Manchester received a tip-off about the Stockport man, leading to a raid on his home.
During the search, officers found the sexual fantasy letters from a “Chris Hepworth” living in Clarence Street, York.
This evidence prompted North Yorkshire Police to investigate Hepworth further, ultimately leading to his conviction and sentencing.
