JOHN BARDEN'S HORRIFIC CRIME IN PETERBOROUGH: FAMILY RECOUNTS DEVASTATION
| Red Rose Database
Peterborough Child Sexual Abuser
In May 2006, the family of a young boy from Peterborough opened up about the harrowing ordeal they endured after their son was sexually assaulted by John Barden, a man with a disturbing criminal history. Barden, aged 53 at the time, was sentenced to four years in prison for his heinous act against a six-year-old boy, an incident that has left deep emotional scars on the victim and his family.
John Barden was known to have a troubling past, with two previous convictions for assaulting children. Despite this, when he relocated to the Ortons area of Peterborough in 2001, the family of the young victim had no knowledge of his criminal background. They extended a warm gesture of friendship, welcoming Barden into their community and trusting him with their child, unaware of the dark intentions he harbored.
Tragically, in January 2005, Barden betrayed that trust in the most appalling way. He subjected the young boy to a sexual assault, an act that has since devastated the entire family. The boy’s mother, who is softly spoken and visibly distressed, recounted that she had left her son in Barden’s care for only half an hour. She explained, “He always came across as a bloke who’d had a hard upbringing and just wanted to be involved, so that’s what we tried to do. This was someone we had befriended and allowed into our home, and we still can’t believe how he betrayed us.”
Following the assault, the brave young boy disclosed what had happened, prompting his parents to rally around him and offer unwavering support. The family revealed that their son remains emotionally scarred by the experience. His father shared, “He felt ashamed and dirty and thought he would be made to go to his bedroom for doing something wrong. When he told us, we just didn’t want to believe it. Your first reaction is that this can’t be true. But our son would never lie.”
The parents emphasized their pride in their son’s bravery for speaking out. They have been open with him and their other children about the incident, praising him for his courage. “He’s a very strong boy, and we hope that he will be strong enough to come through this,” they said.
Throughout the ordeal, the family faced difficult decisions, including contemplating whether to withdraw from the case to shield their son from further trauma. However, they chose to persevere, driven by the fear that Barden could pose a threat to other children. The mother explained, “It was the thought of other children and what this has done to us that kept us going. We didn’t want him to be able to put another family through what he’s put us through.”
They also shared how they explained to their son that the four-year sentence was not forever. The boy, upset by the length of Barden’s imprisonment, believed it to be “forever,” a sentiment his mother tried to reassure him was only for four years. She expressed concern that her son will carry the emotional burden for the rest of his life, especially knowing that Barden could be free in three years.
Following his arrest, Barden went on the run, triggering a seven-month manhunt. He was eventually located in Wales and brought to justice. His family’s long wait for accountability ended when he pleaded guilty to forcing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity. During the sentencing at Peterborough Crown Court, Judge Nicholas Coleman described Barden as a “dangerous” individual, emphasizing the severity of his crimes.
Now, the parents are warning other families to be vigilant about who they trust. The mother reflected, “What he did has consumed all of our lives for 15 months. All parents think that it won’t happen to their child. We’re not the sort of parents who leave their kids with anyone else, so for this to happen to us just goes to show it really can happen to anyone.”
John Barden was known to have a troubling past, with two previous convictions for assaulting children. Despite this, when he relocated to the Ortons area of Peterborough in 2001, the family of the young victim had no knowledge of his criminal background. They extended a warm gesture of friendship, welcoming Barden into their community and trusting him with their child, unaware of the dark intentions he harbored.
Tragically, in January 2005, Barden betrayed that trust in the most appalling way. He subjected the young boy to a sexual assault, an act that has since devastated the entire family. The boy’s mother, who is softly spoken and visibly distressed, recounted that she had left her son in Barden’s care for only half an hour. She explained, “He always came across as a bloke who’d had a hard upbringing and just wanted to be involved, so that’s what we tried to do. This was someone we had befriended and allowed into our home, and we still can’t believe how he betrayed us.”
Following the assault, the brave young boy disclosed what had happened, prompting his parents to rally around him and offer unwavering support. The family revealed that their son remains emotionally scarred by the experience. His father shared, “He felt ashamed and dirty and thought he would be made to go to his bedroom for doing something wrong. When he told us, we just didn’t want to believe it. Your first reaction is that this can’t be true. But our son would never lie.”
The parents emphasized their pride in their son’s bravery for speaking out. They have been open with him and their other children about the incident, praising him for his courage. “He’s a very strong boy, and we hope that he will be strong enough to come through this,” they said.
Throughout the ordeal, the family faced difficult decisions, including contemplating whether to withdraw from the case to shield their son from further trauma. However, they chose to persevere, driven by the fear that Barden could pose a threat to other children. The mother explained, “It was the thought of other children and what this has done to us that kept us going. We didn’t want him to be able to put another family through what he’s put us through.”
They also shared how they explained to their son that the four-year sentence was not forever. The boy, upset by the length of Barden’s imprisonment, believed it to be “forever,” a sentiment his mother tried to reassure him was only for four years. She expressed concern that her son will carry the emotional burden for the rest of his life, especially knowing that Barden could be free in three years.
Following his arrest, Barden went on the run, triggering a seven-month manhunt. He was eventually located in Wales and brought to justice. His family’s long wait for accountability ended when he pleaded guilty to forcing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity. During the sentencing at Peterborough Crown Court, Judge Nicholas Coleman described Barden as a “dangerous” individual, emphasizing the severity of his crimes.
Now, the parents are warning other families to be vigilant about who they trust. The mother reflected, “What he did has consumed all of our lives for 15 months. All parents think that it won’t happen to their child. We’re not the sort of parents who leave their kids with anyone else, so for this to happen to us just goes to show it really can happen to anyone.”