BARRY OLDFIELD SENTENCED IN SOUTH MOLTON FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF VULNERABLE WOMAN

In September 2012, a disturbing case unfolded at Exeter Crown Court involving Barry Oldfield, a 72-year-old man from South Molton, who was convicted of sexually abusing a vulnerable woman with Down's Syndrome. The incident was particularly heinous because Oldfield had been entrusted with the care of the young woman while her parents, suffering from terminal cancer, were undergoing treatment. Instead of providing support and assistance, Oldfield exploited their trust and committed grievous acts of sexual assault.

Oldfield, a self-employed recycler residing at Dart Park in South Molton, was accused of abusing the 29-year-old woman, who had the mental capacity of a four-year-old. The court heard that he had sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions, bullying her into silence through threats of confinement or gagging her if she tried to speak out. His actions shocked the community and drew widespread condemnation.

Initially, Oldfield faced four counts of sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder unable to refuse due to her condition. The court found him guilty last week, and Recorder Andrew Oldland, QC, sentenced him to 15 years in prison. The sentence was intended to reflect the severity of his crimes and the breach of trust involved.

However, in a surprising turn, the judge later decided to reduce Oldfield’s sentence to 13 years. After further reflection over the weekend, Recorder Oldland explained that he believed the original sentence was excessively long. He stated, “I reflected further over the weekend and have decided the sentence was too long. The reason is that I do not think I took into account adequately the relatively few occasions the offending occurred. The guidelines must incorporate cases where abuse happens many times, and therefore I have decided to reduce the sentence.”

Six days prior to the reduction, the judge had delivered a powerful statement condemning Oldfield’s actions. He described how Oldfield had taken advantage of the parents’ ill health in the most cynical manner, abusing their trust while they were sleeping or resting. The judge emphasized the profound impact such abuse has on parents of disabled children, highlighting that their worst nightmare is the sexual victimization of their vulnerable offspring. The judge called Oldfield’s conduct “the embodiment of that nightmare” and condemned it as “beneath contempt.”

Furthermore, the judge pointed out that the threats Oldfield made to silence the victim added to the severity of his breach of trust, not only with the young woman but also with her grieving parents. The case underscored the importance of safeguarding vulnerable individuals and holding perpetrators accountable for their heinous acts.