JOSEPH BARBER FROM BOURNEMOUTH JAILED FOR COURT ORDER VIOLATIONS AND SEX OFFENDER OFFENSES
In May 2021, Joseph Tobias Jacob Barber, a 21-year-old man from Bournemouth, was sentenced to a year in prison after being found guilty of multiple breaches of court orders and related offenses.The case was heard at Bournemouth Crown Court, where the judge described Barber as an "arrogant young man" who demonstrated a "flagrant disregard" for the legal restrictions imposed upon him.
Barber's troubles began when he failed to adhere to a restraining order and a sexual harm prevention order issued against him.
Specifically, on January 31, 2020, he added a woman on the social media platform Snapchat and sent her a message, actions that were explicitly prohibited by the restraining order made in September 2019.
This breach was part of a series of violations that highlighted his blatant disrespect for the court's directives.
Further complications arose in August of the same year when authorities discovered Barber in possession of two USB sticks and an SD card.
These items were found during a police search of his residence on Castleton Avenue, Bournemouth.
Importantly, Barber had failed to notify the police three days prior to possessing these devices, as required by the sexual harm prevention order issued on June 15, 2020.
This order, which was set for five years, was granted following an application at Poole Magistrates’ Court, rather than as a result of a conviction for a specific offense.
Prosecutor David Jenkins outlined the case, explaining that the complainant in the restraining order case received a notification on her phone indicating a follow request on Snapchat from an account linked to Barber.
Later that day, she received another notification stating that the account had sent her a direct message.
Concerned, she reported this to the police, leading to Barber’s arrest the following day.
During police interviews, Barber denied setting up the Snapchat account.
However, investigators traced the IP address used to create the account and send the message back to his home address, establishing his involvement.
Barber refused to attend a voluntary police interview and was subsequently arrested in April 2020.
Despite denying the allegations, he was formally charged.
A victim impact statement read aloud by Mr.
Jenkins revealed the emotional toll on the complainant, who was visibly distressed and crying after receiving the notification.
She expressed her fear of Barber and her desire for him to leave her alone.
In August 2020, police responded to reports of another offense at Barber’s residence.
A search of his bedroom uncovered the USB sticks and SD card, which were later confirmed not to have been properly notified to authorities, breaching the terms of the sexual harm prevention order.
Barber initially pleaded not guilty to breaching the restraining order but changed his plea to guilty as the case approached a Crown Court trial.
Judge Pawson sentenced Barber to 12 months in prison for breaching the sexual harm prevention order.
Additionally, he imposed a new five-year restraining order to prevent further contact with the victim.
The judge criticized Barber for leading the legal process on a "merry dance," deliberately misleading the court and authorities.
Aside from the breaches related to the court orders, Barber also faced other legal issues.
In August 2020, he was fined £150 for failing to attend a police station to register as a sex offender, a requirement under Section 80 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
The fine included a surcharge of £34 and costs of £85.
Earlier, in June 2019, Barber, then aged 19 and residing on Castleton Avenue, Bournemouth, admitted to harassing a person through persistent social media messaging between November 11 and 28, 2018.
Despite being told by police to cease contact, he continued to message the individual.
As a result, he was given a community order, which mandated 20 days of rehabilitation activities and 80 hours of unpaid work.
A restraining order was also issued, lasting until June 2021, along with an £85 surcharge and costs of £85.
Throughout these proceedings, Barber’s pattern of behavior demonstrated a consistent disregard for legal restrictions and the well-being of others, culminating in his recent imprisonment and ongoing court orders aimed at protecting potential victims from further harm.
