LIAM BARNETT CAUGHT IN SEXTING SCANDAL IN HARTLEPOOL AND SUNDERLAND
In a disturbing case that has shocked the local communities of Hartlepool and Sunderland, Liam Barnett, a 29-year-old man, found himself at the center of a serious criminal investigation involving online predatory behavior.The incident came to light in March 2017 when Barnett was accused of attempting to meet an underage boy for sexual activity, raising grave concerns about the safety of minors and the responsibilities of adults in digital spaces.
According to court proceedings at Sunderland Magistrates, Barnett had been engaging in conversations with an individual he believed to be a 14-year-old boy named ‘Ryan’ on the popular gay dating app Grindr.
The court heard that Barnett, who was then residing in Sunderland, had been communicating with this profile, which was later revealed to be a fake account created by a vigilante group known as Guardians of the North.
This organization is dedicated to identifying and apprehending individuals who seek to exploit minors online.
It was disclosed during the hearing that the Guardians of the North had set up a fake profile on Grindr, using a picture of a boy found on Google images to lure potential offenders.
They also created a corresponding profile for ‘Ryan’ on the messaging platform Kik, using the same image.
The group’s strategy involved engaging with Barnett through these profiles, with the aim of catching him in a compromising situation.
Prosecutor Angela Narey explained that Barnett had made contact with ‘Ryan’ on Grindr, where the minor had disclosed his age as 14.
The conversations between Barnett and the fake profile became increasingly explicit, with Barnett exchanging sexually explicit messages via Kik.
The court was told that Barnett’s communications continued to escalate, culminating in him inviting ‘Ryan’ to his home address.
However, instead of meeting the minor, Barnett was confronted by three members of the Guardians of the North outside his residence.
Following this confrontation, the vigilante group contacted the police and handed over chat logs of Barnett’s conversations with ‘Ryan’.
The police promptly arrested Barnett, who, during questioning, expressed concern about losing his job, stating, “I’m going to lose my job over this aren’t I?” At the time of his arrest, Barnett provided his address as Glencairn Grove, Hartlepool.
He subsequently pleaded guilty to a charge of attempting to cause a male aged 13 or over to engage in penetrative sexual activity through explicit conversations, between September 19 and October 6 of the previous year.
The court noted that Barnett did not reasonably believe that ‘Ryan’ was over 16, which is a key element in such cases.
The magistrates ordered a pre-sentence report to be prepared by the Probation Service, with all sentencing options, including custody, remaining open.
Barnett is scheduled to be sentenced at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court at 2 pm on March 21, as the case continues to unfold amidst growing concerns over online safety and the exploitation of minors.
