BIRKENHEAD MAN BARRY TURNBULL CAUGHT WITH CHILD ABUSE IMAGES AND ONLINE DISCUSSIONS
| Red Rose Database
Birkenhead Rapist
In June 2015, a disturbing case emerged from Birkenhead involving Barry Turnbull, a 55-year-old man who was found guilty of possessing indecent images of children and engaging in online conversations about child abuse. Turnbull, who previously worked as a journalist for the Daily Post and Echo, resides on Park Road East in Birkenhead. Despite the severity of his actions, he narrowly avoided a prison sentence.
Turnbull pleaded guilty at Liverpool Crown Court to possessing a total of 36 indecent images depicting children as young as ten years old. The images were discovered during a police investigation into other matters, which ultimately did not lead to criminal proceedings at that time. The police seized his computer on February 6, 2014, and subsequent forensic analysis revealed searches for terms such as “underage girls,” “underage bikini babes,” and “12 year old sex,” indicating a disturbing interest in underage children.
The court was informed that the images found on Turnbull’s device included a range of categories, with one classified as Category A—the most serious—depicting a 13-year-old girl being raped by an adult man. The remaining images were categorized as four in Category B and 31 in Category C. These images, along with the online conversations, painted a troubling picture of Turnbull’s involvement in the exploitation of minors.
Prosecutor Simon Duncan explained that Turnbull had engaged in video calls via Skype with other men, during which they discussed child abuse. Turnbull admitted during police interviews that his initial interest was sparked by responding to advertisements on the internet site Craigslist, where he sought sexual encounters. He described his descent into a “fantasy world,” driven by boredom and frustration, but insisted he derived no personal gratification from the images. Instead, he claimed he used them to “titillate” other men, describing the activity as “like a game.”
Defense lawyer Neil Gunn highlighted that Turnbull had been a diligent and hardworking journalist, emphasizing his previous good character. Gunn described his client’s fall from grace as “quite spectacular” and noted that the case had already caused Turnbull significant upheaval, including moving house twice due to publicity surrounding the investigation.
Judge Andrew Hatton delivered the sentence, acknowledging the gravity of the crimes. He stated, “The images may be few in number but you know, having viewed them, that children have suffered abuse in order for these images to be created.” However, the judge also recognized that Turnbull showed “genuine remorse” and a “desire to change.”
As a result, Turnbull was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years. He was also placed under a two-year supervision order, required to sign the sex offenders register for ten years, and subjected to a two-year sexual harm prevention order. The case served as a stark reminder of the ongoing efforts to combat online child exploitation, even in communities like Birkenhead.
Turnbull pleaded guilty at Liverpool Crown Court to possessing a total of 36 indecent images depicting children as young as ten years old. The images were discovered during a police investigation into other matters, which ultimately did not lead to criminal proceedings at that time. The police seized his computer on February 6, 2014, and subsequent forensic analysis revealed searches for terms such as “underage girls,” “underage bikini babes,” and “12 year old sex,” indicating a disturbing interest in underage children.
The court was informed that the images found on Turnbull’s device included a range of categories, with one classified as Category A—the most serious—depicting a 13-year-old girl being raped by an adult man. The remaining images were categorized as four in Category B and 31 in Category C. These images, along with the online conversations, painted a troubling picture of Turnbull’s involvement in the exploitation of minors.
Prosecutor Simon Duncan explained that Turnbull had engaged in video calls via Skype with other men, during which they discussed child abuse. Turnbull admitted during police interviews that his initial interest was sparked by responding to advertisements on the internet site Craigslist, where he sought sexual encounters. He described his descent into a “fantasy world,” driven by boredom and frustration, but insisted he derived no personal gratification from the images. Instead, he claimed he used them to “titillate” other men, describing the activity as “like a game.”
Defense lawyer Neil Gunn highlighted that Turnbull had been a diligent and hardworking journalist, emphasizing his previous good character. Gunn described his client’s fall from grace as “quite spectacular” and noted that the case had already caused Turnbull significant upheaval, including moving house twice due to publicity surrounding the investigation.
Judge Andrew Hatton delivered the sentence, acknowledging the gravity of the crimes. He stated, “The images may be few in number but you know, having viewed them, that children have suffered abuse in order for these images to be created.” However, the judge also recognized that Turnbull showed “genuine remorse” and a “desire to change.”
As a result, Turnbull was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years. He was also placed under a two-year supervision order, required to sign the sex offenders register for ten years, and subjected to a two-year sexual harm prevention order. The case served as a stark reminder of the ongoing efforts to combat online child exploitation, even in communities like Birkenhead.