JOHN BARTRAM FROM UCKFIELD SENTENCED FOR SEX OFFENCES INVOLVING CHILDREN

In April 2017, a disturbing case involving a resident of Uckfield came to light as John Bartram, aged 61 and residing on Furnace Way, was brought before Lewes Crown Court to face multiple serious allegations related to sexual offences involving minors.

Bartram pleaded guilty to a total of seven counts, which included three charges of creating indecent images of children, three counts of voyeurism, and one count of taking indecent images of children. The court proceedings revealed the extent of his misconduct, which spanned over a period of time and involved both online activities and covert recordings of individuals known to him.

Following his guilty plea, the court imposed a significant sentence, including a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). This order is designed to impose strict restrictions on Bartram’s access to children and computers, aiming to prevent any further offending. Additionally, he will be registered as a sex offender for the next decade, a measure that requires him to regularly update authorities about his whereabouts and activities.

The investigation was led by Detective Constable Martin Harmer of the Sussex Police Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT). According to DC Harmer, the case was initiated after police received intelligence suggesting Bartram was involved in the distribution of indecent images online. Officers executed a search warrant at his residence in November 2015, where they discovered evidence of his activities.

Forensic analysis of the seized materials uncovered a large collection of indecent images and videos of children, including over 300 images classified in the most serious category, all sourced from the internet. The investigation also revealed that Bartram had been secretly recording four individuals known to him, including a teenage girl, without their knowledge or consent.

During the court proceedings, Bartram refused to acknowledge the harm caused by his covert recordings. Instead, he attempted to shift blame onto the police, claiming that their actions in tracing and disclosing the victims' identities were responsible for the harm inflicted. This stance was met with criticism from the judge, Christine Laing, who emphasized the gravity of his breach of trust, especially concerning vulnerable children. Judge Laing described the offences as a gross abuse of trust and highlighted that Bartram failed to understand the severity of his actions.

DC Harmer commented on the case, stating, “These were serious offences, and those who are inclined to engage in this type of activity should be aware that law enforcement actively seeks out such offenders and that there are significant legal consequences for their actions.” The case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing efforts by police to combat online and offline sexual exploitation of minors, and the importance of holding offenders accountable.