WALTHAM ABBEY MAN ROBERT BARWELL SENTENCED FOR INTERNET GROOMING AND SEXUAL OFFENSES IN LONDON

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Waltham Abbey and the wider London area, Robert Barwell, a 31-year-old man from Roundhills, was handed a life sentence after being convicted of engaging in a disturbing online relationship with a minor and subsequently committing sexual acts with her.

Barwell, who was employed in internet project roles at Epping Forest Council before his arrest, first met the 14-year-old girl through an online chat room. The court was told that the girl, who was only 13 at the time, initiated contact in November 2005, revealing her age and gender openly. Despite initial warnings from Barwell to leave the chat due to her young age, she persisted in communicating with him, offering her email address so they could continue their conversations.

Over the following months, their online relationship deepened, with the girl becoming increasingly dependent on Barwell. By Christmas, they were exchanging up to 15 text messages daily, many containing sexually explicit content from early on. The court heard that Barwell had taken her on outings to the zoo, ballet performances, and the cinema, fostering a false sense of companionship and trust.

On Valentine’s Day of the following year, Barwell booked a hotel room where the pair engaged in sexual activity, an act that marked a significant escalation in their relationship. Prosecutor Natasha Tahta described how the girl felt she could not live without Barwell, illustrating the emotional manipulation involved.

Suspicion arose when the girl’s parents became aware of her meetings with Barwell. They followed his car and reported their concerns, leading to his arrest by British Transport Police after he was found at Victoria Station. During police interviews, Barwell claimed that his relationship with the girl was more akin to that of a counselor and patient rather than a romantic partnership. However, he admitted to receiving a photograph of her in underwear and bra, and acknowledged kissing and touching her. He also confessed that she had touched his genital area while he was driving.

Psychiatrists who examined Barwell concluded that he exhibited paedophilic tendencies and had deliberately groomed the girl for what they described as an “unhealthy and perverted relationship.”

Defense lawyer Laura Brickman described Barwell as “a sensitive and highly intelligent man” who lacked “ordinary common sense.” She suggested that his lack of physical attractiveness and his geeky demeanor may have initially flattered him when the girl showed genuine affection. Brickman emphasized that there was a level of real affection between them, despite the criminal nature of his actions.

Barwell pleaded guilty to charges of sexual activity with a child and meeting a child following sexual grooming. The court sentenced him to an indefinite detention, with a minimum term of three and a half years before eligibility for parole. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender and was disqualified from working with children for life.

Judge Charles Byers delivered a stern warning during the sentencing, stating, “Let there be no mistake that those who groom children on the internet behave in my view in a manner as badly as someone who prowls the street looking for a victim or loiters outside the school gate waiting for young girls.” The case underscores the dangers of online grooming and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable minors from predators.