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TODMORDEN DAD BRIAN BARNES CAUGHT TRYING TO SOLICIT INDECENT IMAGES FROM 11-YEAR-OLD BOY
In April 2022, a disturbing incident unfolded in Todmorden involving a local father, Brian Barnes, aged 35, who was caught attempting to engage in inappropriate and sexual communication with what he believed to be an 11-year-old boy. The incident was brought to light when a paedophile hunting group intercepted Barnes’s messages, revealing his disturbing intentions.Brian Barnes, a resident of Wilkinson House in Todmorden and a father of four children, was found to have been under the influence of cannabis at the time of the exchanges. His online conversations with the decoy, who was actually a member of the vigilant group, spanned over a week. During this period, Barnes persistently asked for video calls and requested explicit images of the decoy’s genitalia, demonstrating a clear intent to exploit a minor.
Prosecutor Paul Canfield outlined the details of the case during a hearing at Bradford Crown Court. He explained that the decoy repeatedly informed Barnes of his true age, yet Barnes continued to pursue the conversation. It was Barnes who initiated the sexual dialogue, asking the decoy to show his penis and inquiring about its size. The defendant also asked the decoy what he was wearing and who he was with at the time.
Further into the conversation, Barnes suggested moving the chat to another application that would be more suitable for sharing pictures. During this process, Barnes’s mobile number was discovered, and his social media accounts were traced by an online safety team, providing concrete evidence of his intentions.
Judge Andrew Hatton presided over the case and decided against an immediate custodial sentence. Instead, he sentenced Barnes to eight months in prison, suspended for 21 months. The judge also ordered Barnes to complete 40 days of rehabilitation and perform 160 hours of unpaid community work. The ruling reflects the seriousness of the offence but also considers the defendant’s circumstances and the efforts to rehabilitate him.
