KEITH BAMBER SENTENCED IN BARROW FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

In October 2012, a significant case involving a convicted sex offender from Barrow culminated in a lengthy prison sentence, bringing a sense of relief to the victim’s family and highlighting the ongoing efforts to protect vulnerable children from predatory individuals.

The mother of a young girl, who endured terrifying abuse at the hands of Keith Bamber, expressed her feelings of relief following his sentencing. Speaking to the Evening Mail outside the court, she stated, “It does bring some closure. I can go back to my little girl and tell her ‘he’s not coming out’ – and that’s the main thing.” Her words underscored the emotional toll the ordeal had taken on her family and the importance of justice.

Keith Bamber, a 43-year-old man formerly residing on St Michael’s Road in Rampside, Barrow, was found guilty of multiple serious offenses. The court heard that he had systematically isolated and manipulated his young victim, a girl under the age of 13, into hiding the abuse she suffered. The case was brought to light after a public protection unit alerted the girl’s family about Bamber’s past and his suspicious behavior.

During the proceedings at Preston Crown Court, it was revealed that Bamber had a prior conviction for a sex offence against an adult, which he claimed was a wrongful conviction. Despite this, he was on the sex offenders’ register for life and under continuous supervision by the public protection unit. The police had contacted the girl’s family because of Bamber’s association with them, but he had reassured them that he posed no threat. He also falsely claimed that his previous conviction for indecent assault in Ulverston in 1996 was unjustified.

Bamber had pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual assault and an additional 22 charges related to the creation and distribution of indecent images of children. When police arrested him in March, they discovered he had accessed child pornography on the internet, further confirming the severity of his offenses.

Prosecutor Mr. Alex Leach emphasized that the girl was under 13 years old at the time of the assault. He explained that Bamber had manipulated her into keeping the abuse a secret, telling her not to tell anyone and framing it as their shared secret. The court heard that the girl had been suffering nightmares and emotional distress as a result of her experiences.

Defense barrister Mr. Richard Haworth acknowledged Bamber’s guilty plea and expressed that his client felt remorseful for his actions. Haworth highlighted that Bamber’s guilty plea spared the young girl from the trauma of testifying and that Bamber’s wife remained supportive, hoping for a fresh start once he was released.

Judge Simon Newell sentenced Bamber to an indefinite prison term for public protection, indicating that he would only be released when deemed no longer a danger to the public. The judge also emphasized the seriousness of the offenses, stating, “You do have, not only an interest in abusing adult women, but you clearly now have an interest in abusing young children.” Bamber was also ordered to remain on the sex offenders’ register for life and to comply with a lifelong sexual offences prevention order.

Following the sentencing, the girl’s mother expressed her satisfaction with the outcome. She said, “I’m really pleased to be honest. When they explained to us the full details, we realized he’s not getting out for a very long time. It does bring some closure, definitely.” She added that her daughter had been deeply affected, experiencing distress and nightmares, but was now on the path to recovery. The family hoped that with this justice served, her daughter could begin to move forward and rebuild her life.