BARRY LEES SENTENCED IN BEDFORD FOR ONLINE SEX CRIMES INVOLVING POLICE OFFICERS POSED AS TEENAGERS
In February 2018, a man from Bedford was sentenced to prison after engaging in illegal online sexual conversations with individuals he believed to be underage girls.The offender, Barry Lees, aged 61 and residing on Conquest Road in Bedford, was caught in a sting operation where two police officers pretended to be teenage girls named Olivia and Hannah.
Lees was arrested following these interactions and subsequently pleaded guilty at Luton Crown Court to multiple serious charges.
These included two counts of attempting to meet a child under the age of 16 for sexual activity and three counts of possessing indecent images of children.
His guilty plea led to a sentencing of two years in prison.
During the court proceedings, prosecutor Sarah Porter detailed the nature of the online chats.
She explained that the officers posed as 13- and 14-year-old girls on a platform called Chat Avenue.
Lees was observed asking for explicit pictures, despite the officers clearly indicating their true age.
The court was shown evidence of the conversations and the extent of Lees' online misconduct.
Following his arrest, authorities executed a search at Lees' residence, where they confiscated a computer tower.
The seized device contained a disturbing collection of images, including 45 classified as Category A, which is considered the most severe level of child sex abuse material.
Additionally, there were 101 images categorized as B and C, indicating varying degrees of indecency.
The court also heard about Lees' criminal history, which dates back to 1974.
His previous convictions include an indecent assault on a female and acts of indecent exposure, highlighting a long-standing pattern of sexual misconduct.
Lees' defense attorney, Sam Stockwell, acknowledged his client's guilty plea and emphasized that Lees had cooperated fully with police investigations.
He explained that Lees had turned to pornography following the death of his wife and described his state of mind as being in an 'isolated bubble.' The defense also stated that Lees intends to seek treatment for his issues.
However, Judge Richard Foster condemned Lees' actions and his criminal record, describing it as 'horrific.' The judge stated, 'It is clear you are perverted and had sexual interest in young women.' As part of his sentence, Lees will be required to register as a sex offender and will be subject to a lifelong sexual harm prevention order, underscoring the seriousness of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses.
