CHATHAM MAN CAMERON BARNES SENTENCED FOR RAPE OF 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN KENT WOODS AND HOMES

In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Chatham and the wider Kent area, Cameron Barnes, aged 27, was found guilty of heinous sexual offenses involving a young girl who was just 13 years old at the time of the attacks. The incidents took place across various locations in Kent, including a woodland ditch, a dilapidated shed, and two separate residential homes in Strood and Whitstable, as well as a property in Canterbury.

Today, after a lengthy trial that saw the jury deliberate for 16 hours and 44 minutes, Barnes was convicted on all five counts brought against him. These included four counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. The evidence presented in court was described by Judge Rupert Lowe as “extremely clear and straight-forward,” leaving little room for doubt about Barnes’s guilt.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Lowe did not hold back in condemning Barnes’s actions. He described the evidence as compelling and emphasized the severity of the crimes committed. The judge sentenced Barnes to a substantial term of 15 years in prison, reflecting the gravity of his offenses and the impact on the victim.

The victim, now in her twenties, bravely testified about her traumatic experiences. She revealed that she had been subjected to sexual abuse on multiple occasions, starting when she was a child. Her first attacker was incarcerated in 2013 after pleading guilty to rape and numerous other sexual offenses at Canterbury Crown Court. The woman recounted her feelings during the assaults, describing how Barnes would manipulate her, telling her “just do it with me please” while raping her in a ditch, and later in a shed filled with rubbish so dense that the door could not close.

Footage of her describing the assaults to police officers was played in court, providing a stark and emotional account of her ordeal. She explained that she was only 17 at the time of her first attack and that she had repeatedly told Barnes she did not want to participate, but he persisted. Her testimony detailed how Barnes isolated her during the attacks, which included a disturbing incident in a public park where he lured her into a game of ‘Hide and Seek’ before assaulting her.

Throughout the trial, Barnes’s defense attempted to cast doubt on the victim’s credibility. His barrister, David Osborne, suggested that her allegations might be influenced by her previous experiences, asking whether she was simply applying past accusations to Barnes. The victim firmly denied this, stating she was telling the truth and that her accounts of the assaults were accurate.

Prosecutor Tom Dunn challenged Barnes’s credibility further, highlighting inconsistencies and asking about his behavior, including the purchase of what he claimed were inappropriate underwear for the victim. Barnes denied this, asserting that he never bought her such items. He also denied raping her in the shed, claiming it was filled with rubbish that prevented the door from closing, despite evidence to the contrary.

It was also revealed that Barnes has a criminal history, including convictions for common assault against a former partner, failure to surrender to court, and driving while disqualified and uninsured. In addition to his prison sentence, Judge Lowe imposed a restraining order preventing Barnes from contacting his victim and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years, aimed at protecting her from further harm.

As Barnes was led away in custody, he was seen shaking his head and sobbing in the dock. His friends and family expressed their shock and distress as the verdicts were read out. The case has left a lasting impact on the community of Chatham and highlights the ongoing need for vigilance and support for victims of sexual abuse in Kent.