BARRY PRICE SENTENCED TO 18 YEARS IN LUTON FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES AGAINST TEENAGERS
A man described as a 'callous' and 'self-entitled' sexual predator who assaulted two teenagers has been sentenced to 18 years in prison at Luton Crown Court.Barry Brice, 24, who has no fixed address, was found unanimously guilty by a jury comprising three women and nine men of four counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and two counts of false imprisonment.
He was also issued with an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a restraining order preventing him from contacting his victims.
The offender employed a fake Facebook profile of a 17-year-old boy to communicate with and set up meetings with young girls.
On October 28, 2019, Price arranged to meet a 16-year-old girl.
They spent the day together before he drove her into a field, where he raped her in his car after forcing her to put her phone into 'airplane mode.' He then drove her to a property in Gamlingay, Cambridgeshire, where he continued his attack, raping and sexually assaulting her further.
Afterwards, he took her to a nearby railway station, callously telling her, 'good luck getting home.' On November 7, 2019, Price contacted a 15-year-old girl, whom she believed to be chatting with a 17-year-old boy.
He took her to the same property in Gamlingay, again placing her phone on 'airplane mode' before subjecting her to sexual assault and rape.
When she tried to leave, he threatened her and destroyed her mobile phone.
Recorder James Wood QC described Price as 'callous' and lacking remorse or empathy.
He commented that Price appeared to have planned the rapes and demonstrated a sense of entitlement to sexually abuse his victims.
Praising the courage of the two young girls for coming forward, Mr.
Wood told Price, 'The memory of what you did to them will live with them forever.' Detective Sergeant Clare Gilbert of Bedfordshire Police’s Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) team, who led the investigation, stated: 'I am satisfied to see that Price will now be incarcerated for such a significant time after committing these heinous sexual offences, by deliberately hiding his true identity on social media for the purpose of gaining access to young girls.
The fact that Price has been jailed for this length of time reflects the severity of his offending and the trauma and anguish he inflicted on his victims.
Seeing this length of sentence handed down drives us to do the work we do, and will continue to do, every single day to protect the public.' She further noted, 'It wasn’t easy for the girls to report what he did to them, and I want to thank them again for their strength in coming forward, which has been truly inspirational.
Hopefully seeing Price locked up will allow them to begin their journeys to recovery.' She added, 'Anyone who commits rape or sexual offences must expect to face the considerable consequences of their actions.' Detective Inspector Michelle Lack emphasized the importance of support, saying: 'Our specially trained officers work closely with highly skilled, specialist and empathetic partners to ensure anyone who has experienced rape or sexual assault can get the right help they need.
If something has happened to you, please let us know.
We will believe you and we will do all we can to support you, and investigate so that perpetrators are brought to justice.' Victims of sexual offences are encouraged to seek support and guidance from Bedfordshire Police and partner agencies, including the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), as they navigate the criminal process.
