BARRY O’KEEFE SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS FOR RAPE ON RIVERBANK IN CARLISLE

In a case that has shocked the community of Carlisle, Barry O’Keefe, aged 31, has been sentenced to a decade behind bars after being convicted of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy. The incident took place along the River Caldew at Denton Holme, where O’Keefe lured the young victim under the guise of a fishing trip.

O’Keefe, who previously resided on Stanhope Road and had more recently been staying on Denton Street, was found guilty at Carlisle Crown Court last month of the heinous crime of rape. Despite the verdict, he maintained his denial of guilt during the sentencing hearing held yesterday. The court heard that O’Keefe’s actions were premeditated and calculated, with the intent to exploit the boy’s trust.

As part of his sentence, O’Keefe was ordered to register as a sex offender with the police for the remainder of his life. Additionally, he was disqualified from working with children and prohibited from having any unsupervised contact with boys under the age of 17, both restrictions being indefinite.

The court was informed during the trial that the victim, who was only 15 at the time, recounted how O’Keefe had drugged and intoxicated him before assaulting him. The boy described how he had consumed 16 cans of lager and inhaled 'Poppers' from a bottle provided by O’Keefe, which left him drowsy and vulnerable. According to the victim, after falling asleep on some rocks along the riverbank, he was awakened to find O’Keefe climbing on top of him and raping him for approximately 20 minutes.

Since the attack, the boy has reportedly become withdrawn, displaying signs of bad temper and poor behavior. He also appeared to blame himself for what had happened, a common reaction among victims of such trauma.

Judge Paul Batty QC addressed O’Keefe directly during the sentencing, emphasizing the severity and premeditated nature of the crime. “You groomed that boy – you befriended him and interested him in a night of fishing and camping,” the judge stated. “It was to be an innocent adventure for him – or so he thought. But you had serious predatory intentions. You manipulated him with alcohol, and not just a little, but enough to impair his judgment. Then, you caused him to sniff Poppers, which you had brought with the explicit purpose of stupefying him.”

Judge Batty expressed concern about the lasting impact of the trauma on the young victim, highlighting the gravity of the offense. “Goodness knows the effect that such a trauma will have upon him now and in the future,” he added.

O’Keefe is expected to serve half of his 10-year sentence before being eligible for release on licence. Should he commit any further offenses during this period, he will be recalled to serve the remainder of his sentence in prison.