BARRY LEWIS FROM STEVENAGE SENTENCED IN ONLINE CHILD GROOMING CASE AT ST ALBANS CROWN COURT

In July 2018, a man from Stevenage, identified as bus driver Barry Lewis, faced serious legal proceedings at St Albans Crown Court following his involvement in an online grooming case involving a minor. Lewis, who had engaged in inappropriate online communication, pleaded guilty to attempting sexual communication with a child, a charge that underscores the severity of his actions.

According to court records, Lewis believed he was corresponding with a 13-year-old girl through an online profile. During their exchanges, he sent explicit messages indicating his desire to engage in sexual activities with the minor. However, the individual Lewis thought he was communicating with was not a real child but a member of the online child protection team known as ‘Totnes Justice’. This team specializes in posing as minors to catch online predators and gather evidence against them.

Once the team obtained sufficient evidence, they handed it over to the police, leading to Lewis’s arrest. The authorities acted swiftly to ensure that justice was served, and Lewis was brought before the court to face the charges.

In his sentencing, Lewis received a 36-month community order, which includes a requirement to participate in a 60-day rehabilitative activity program. Additionally, he was ordered to complete 25 sessions of the Horizon Sex Offenders Programme, a specialized course aimed at addressing sexual offending behavior.

Furthermore, Lewis was placed on the sex offenders register for a period of five years. A sexual harm prevention order was also imposed, lasting for seven years, to restrict his activities and prevent further offenses. As part of the court’s measures, the phone used by Lewis to send the inappropriate messages was ordered to be destroyed, ensuring that no further misuse of the device could occur.

This case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and online safety teams to combat online grooming and protect vulnerable minors from predators. The court’s decision reflects the seriousness with which such offenses are treated, even when the offender is given a suspended sentence rather than immediate imprisonment.