PORTLAND MAN GEOFFREY BARFIELD SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES

In November 2008, a man from Portland named Geoffrey Barfield was sentenced to six months in jail after being found guilty of possessing indecent images of children. The case was brought to light when Barfield’s wife discovered inappropriate pictures and video clips depicting children being sexually assaulted by adults on his mobile phone. This discovery prompted her to confront him about his behavior, leading her to advise him to report the matter to the police.

Despite her urging, Barfield did not take immediate action. Instead, she contacted law enforcement herself, which resulted in a police search of his residence and personal devices. During the search, authorities uncovered additional indecent images on his computer, further implicating him in the possession of child pornography. Barfield, aged 58 and residing on East Weare Road in Portland, pleaded guilty to 14 counts of making indecent images of children when he appeared before Weymouth magistrates in October.

Prosecutor Joanna Morrissey explained that the images and clips found ranged from grade one to grade four, indicating varying levels of severity, although none of the most serious classifications were present. She emphasized that the images were discovered after Barfield’s wife grew suspicious of his conduct and examined his phone. Her suspicion led to her confronting him, and subsequently, her decision to involve the police.

Representing Barfield, lawyer Tim Shorter described the situation as tragic, not only for the children depicted in the images but also for Barfield’s family and himself. He highlighted that Barfield had no prior criminal record and expressed that his client was overwhelmed with shame and remorse. According to Mr. Shorter, Barfield felt disgusted with himself for allowing his actions to lead him into viewing such images, which he described as a form of self-prosecution.

He further stated that Barfield maintained the support of his wife, despite her filing for divorce, and of his family. The lawyer emphasized that Barfield was genuinely remorseful, feeling the weight of guilt and shame for his conduct, and recognized the horrific nature of the images he possessed.

High Court Judge The Honourable Mr. Justice Owen, presiding at Dorchester, acknowledged Barfield’s awareness of the gravity of his offenses. The judge noted that the images and videos involved children as young as five years old being sexually assaulted and that Barfield had contributed to the demand for such illicit material. As part of his sentence, Barfield was ordered to serve six months in prison concurrently for each of the 14 counts, effectively meaning a six-month sentence overall. Additionally, he was prohibited from working with children and was placed on the sex offenders’ register. The court also mandated the destruction of his phone and computer to prevent further distribution or possession of such material.