May 2011 ‘Dangerous’ paedophile sees sentence reduced A ‘DANGEROUS’ paedophile who sexually assaulted a seven-year-old girl has seen his prison sentence slashed by top judges in London. Barry Hood, of Stanley Grove in Weston, was indefinitely jailed for public protection after admitting three child sex offences last November. At the time, Judge Carol Hagen ruled that Hood – who also had two previous convictions relating to indecent behaviour around children – must serve a minimum of five years before he could even apply for parole. But three senior judges at the Court of Appeal this week decided the sentence was too harsh, and reduced his minimum tariff by a third. Back in November, the Mercury reported how Hood had lured the youngster into his flat before sexually assaulting her over two days. He was caught – literally, with his pants down – by the victim’s mother, and admitted to her: “I know, I know, I thought I could cope with it, but I can’t.” Hood pleaded guilty to charges of sexual assault, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and making indecent images of children, and was described by prosecutor James Ward as posing ‘a serious risk of sexual harm to children’. Hood’s previous convictions saw him jailed for an assault on a girl of a similar age in 1982, and further court sanctions for indecently exposing himself to two young girls in 1998. January 2011 Paedophile jailed after two days of sexual abuse A PREDATORY paedophile who abused a seven-year-old girl three times in his Weston flat has been jailed indefinitely for the protection of the public. Barry Hood, aged 49, lured the girl to his Stanley Grove home to move furniture inside his bedroom. But, instead, Hood unleashed two days of sexual abuse on the juvenile until he was caught by her stepmother facing the victim with his pants down. When confronted by the angry parent, he cried ‘I know, I know, I thought I could cope with it, but I can’t’. Hood pleaded guilty to inciting a child aged under 13 to engage in sexual activity. He also admitted two sexual assaults on her, as well as downloading 247 child abuse images. Sentencing, Judge Carol Hagen imposed an indeterminate jail term to protect the public. She said Hood, who already has a conviction for committing a sex act in front of children, must serve at least five years before he can be considered for parole. She said: “There is a willingness on your behalf to confront this terrible condition – you have done it in the past and I think you can do it again.” The court heard how the victim was first exposed to Hood when he danced around her naked as she sat at his computer on July 26. Two days later he invited her to his flat, where he put her hand under his pants. The next day he went a step further and touched her. He also bounced the victim on his groin while sitting down. The abuse ended when the girl’s stepmother barged into his flat and saw Hood with his pants around his ankles, facing the victim. Prosecuting, James Ward said: “Mr Hood poses a serious risk of sexual harm to children, he has a condition which has been around for 30 years and it has come up again.” The girl’s mother said in a statement to the court that her daughter had not been affected by the incidents. But she added: “I am concerned what would happen in the future if she remembers any of what has happened. “I would like the court to impose the longest sentence possible [on Hood].” Defending Hood, Kirsty Real said: “He is devastated that this propensity has manifested itself and he has not been able to control it.”