BRANDON BARNETT FROM HORDEN INVOLVED IN DISTURBING ONLINE INCIDENT IN COUNTY DURHAM

In February 2019, a disturbing case emerged involving a young man from Horden, County Durham, who engaged in inappropriate online communication with a minor. Brandon Barnett, aged 20 at the time, admitted to sending explicit images and messages to a girl he was aware was only 14 years old.

The incident came to light when the girl, who was the recipient of the messages, claimed her Facebook account had been hacked and insisted she had not sent the explicit content herself. Despite her assertion, evidence presented in court included screenshots of the conversations exchanged between her and Barnett, which took place on Christmas Eve in 2017. These exchanges contained indecent images and messages that clearly indicated inappropriate communication.

The court proceedings took place in Newton Aycliffe, where magistrates reviewed the evidence and heard details about the case. Brandon Barnett, who resided at West View in Horden, was unemployed at the time and was diagnosed with learning difficulties, dyslexia, and ADHD. These conditions reportedly affected his reading and writing abilities, which was brought up during mitigation.

Legal representative Robert Willoughby confirmed that Barnett had voluntarily signed the Sex Offenders Register, a step often taken to monitor individuals convicted of sexual offenses. However, the magistrates did not agree to an application that would have restricted Barnett’s access to the internet, despite concerns about his online activities.

Ultimately, Barnett pleaded guilty to a single charge of engaging in sexual communication with a child. As part of his sentence, he was given a 12-month community order, which involves regular supervision and compliance with certain conditions. Additionally, he was ordered to pay £85 in court costs and an £85 victim surcharge, reflecting the court’s recognition of the seriousness of the offense and the need for accountability.