RICHARD BARLOW FROM WREXHAM CAUGHT NEAR BANGOR PLAY CENTRE IN VIOLATION OF SEXUAL HARM PREVENTION ORDER

In May 2017, Richard Barlow, a man originally from Wrexham, was apprehended after breaching a court order designed to protect children from sexual harm. The incident took place outside a play centre in Bangor, where Barlow was found loitering in close proximity to an area designated for children's recreation. This breach was particularly serious given the restrictions imposed on him following previous convictions related to child exploitation.

At the time of his arrest, Barlow, aged 27 and residing at the Ty Newydd hostel in Bangor, had recently been released from prison. Despite the court's explicit prohibition preventing him from being within 50 metres of any children's play area, he was seen by other hostel residents standing outside the indoor play centre, gazing through the large glass windows at the children playing inside. The incident was reported to the hostel staff, who promptly alerted the police authorities.

The court proceedings revealed that Barlow had previously been involved in serious offences against children. In September 2012, police had executed a search warrant at his residence in Wrexham and seized his computer equipment. Investigations uncovered a disturbing collection of digital material, including 14 videos, one of which was a split-screen film depicting a seven-year-old girl performing a sexual act on one side while Barlow exposed himself on the other. These images and videos demonstrated a clear pattern of predatory behaviour.

Further examination of his online activity revealed that Barlow had posed as Canadian pop star Justin Bieber, as well as other identities such as a teenage boy and a young girl, to groom and manipulate young girls over the internet. Some children, upon realizing his intentions, simply turned off their computers, but others naively engaged with him. Barlow had used threats to coerce compliance, warning that he would upload compromising videos of them to the internet if they refused to participate in sexual acts.

His online collection included approximately 2,200 still images and 116 videos, many of which involved young children. The most serious offence involved a naked girl aged seven, but others included girls aged 10 and 11, some of whom were clothed. Barlow also had a foot fetish, persuading some girls to show their feet via webcam. The extent of his online abuse was significant, and his actions had a profound impact on the victims.

In court, Judge Rhys Rowlands sentenced Barlow to 12 months in prison for breaching the sexual harm prevention order. The judge emphasized the gravity of the case, stating that only an immediate custodial sentence was appropriate given the seriousness of the breach. The court also imposed a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) to restrict Barlow's future activities and prevent further harm.

Prosecutor Sion ap Mihangel detailed the events leading up to the arrest, highlighting that Barlow had signed out of the Bangor hostel on April 12 and was later seen standing outside the play centre. The court was told that Barlow's behaviour was clearly inappropriate, especially considering the signage indicating the premises was used by children. His hooded top, pulled over his head despite the sunny weather, drew suspicion and led to the police being called.

Throughout the proceedings, Barlow admitted to multiple charges, including inciting a seven-year-old to engage in sexual activity, engaging in sexual acts with children over the internet, and making indecent images and films. His online activity was characterized by grooming, threats, and exploitation, with the police uncovering a disturbing pattern of behaviour that spanned several years.

Defence counsel Owen Edwards described Barlow as a young man with special educational needs who had been led astray by his online activities. He expressed remorse and indicated that Barlow was willing to participate in educational courses while in custody. The defence highlighted that Barlow was a shy, introverted individual who had lived a relatively isolated life and that his actions were a tragic consequence of internet misuse. Despite this, the court underscored the importance of public safety and the need for strict sanctions to prevent future offences.