BARRY PERRIN SENTENCED IN ROCHESTER FOR ONLINE SEXUAL OFFENCES

In October 2011, a serial sex offender from Rochester narrowly avoided prison when he was given a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to online sexual offences.

Barry Perrin, aged 47 and an unemployed barman residing on Nashenden Lane, posed as a 13-year-old girl named "Emma Penny" by creating a fake profile on Facebook. He used this profile to connect with women online.

Although Perrin was already listed as a registered sex offender, he was due to be removed from the register before police discovered multiple offences committed between January and March of that year. Investigators found explicit messages on his computer that involved child abuse, sent to an unidentified Facebook user.

Perrin also admitted that a 45-year-old woman had sent him pictures of "cute" 12-year-old girls and had expressed interest in exchanging photos.

He pleaded guilty to charges including sending obscene messages on Facebook and five counts of downloading child pornography at Medway Magistrates' Court on September 8.

On Thursday of the following week, Perrin appeared again at the same court, where he was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, along with a requirement for supervision. He was also ordered to participate in an internet sexual offences treatment programme, to register as a sex offender for seven years, and to comply with a sexual offences prevention order until further notice.