CHRISTOPHER BARR FROM HERSHAM SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES AND SHPO BREACHES

In a significant legal development, Christopher Barr, a resident of Rodwell Court in Hersham, has been sentenced to a two-year prison term following his conviction for multiple breaches of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

His appearance at Guildford Crown Court on Thursday, 16 November, marked the culmination of a series of investigations into his past and ongoing criminal behavior related to sexual offenses involving minors. Barr, aged 42, is a registered sex offender with a lengthy criminal history that dates back to 2007, involving charges of making and possessing indecent images of children. His previous convictions also include possession of extreme images and violations of his Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

After a conviction in 2013 for further indecent image offenses, Barr was subjected to a comprehensive Sexual Offences Prevention Order. This legal restriction included strict conditions such as prohibiting him from accessing the internet and engaging in any form of written or verbal communication that could relate to the sexual abuse of children. These measures were intended to prevent further offending and protect vulnerable minors from exploitation.

However, authorities from the Force’s Paedophile Online Investigation Team received critical intelligence from CEOP, the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children. The information indicated that an individual, believed to be Barr, was using false identities to exchange suspected indecent images online. Additionally, it was reported that this individual had expressed a sexual interest in children, raising serious concerns about ongoing risk.

Following this intelligence, law enforcement officers swiftly identified Barr as the suspect. A search warrant was executed at his residence, where multiple electronic devices were seized for forensic examination. Despite being released on bail pending further inquiries, Barr continued to offend, allegedly using false details to conceal his activities and evade detection.

His continued violations led to his re-arrest. He was subsequently charged with five counts of breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order and failing to comply with notification requirements mandated by law. The court's decision to impose a two-year prison sentence underscores the severity of his repeated breaches and the ongoing threat he poses to the community in Hersham and beyond.