September 2016 Convicted sex offender commits more crime within days of leaving prison – danger to all females A convicted sex offender who followed a pregnant woman in his car for up to 15 minutes terrifying her has been jailed after a judge described him as a danger to all females Roy Barton had only been released from prison three days earlier to a hostel in Dewsbury when he saw the woman in Bright Street on August 12. Mark McKone, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court yesterday Barton was subject to a curfew to remain in the hostel until 9am and had left at 9.07am. He then saw his heavily pregnant victim as she was walking to work and persisted in driving close to her and watching her. At one stage he did a U-turn to approach her again and she described him as “smiling and staring intently” at her. She did not know him and was scared as he continued to follow her for between 10-15 minutes fearing for her safety and that of her unborn child. When she got to work she burst into tears because of the ordeal and the police were notified. The court heard Barton had previous convictions for harassment and indecent exposure. In August, 2012 he was jailed for five years for attempting to kidnap a 13-year-old girl, sexual activity in the presence of a child and breaching previous Sexual Offences Prevention Orders. The court heard while living in Heckmondwike he tried to get the 13-year-old into his car while she was walking home from school in Leeds. Then in February last year he was jailed for 16 months for a further breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and it was from that sentence he was released this summer. Michael Miller, representing Barton, said he was able to comply with courses and conform in prison but once released “he is unable to resist temptation of going back to the same behaviour. “He recognises an immediate custodial sentence will be passed and that it will be lengthy for this offence bearing in mind the persistent nature of his breaches. “He recognises his problems and has referred himself to mental health services in prison.” Barton, 35 of Albion Street, Dewsbury admitted breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order by causing his victim to suffer alarm and distress and was jailed for 28 months. Judge Geoffrey Marson QC said a custodial sentence was inevitable. “This offence was within three days of your release,” he said. “It is perfectly obvious you are a danger to women. “You followed this woman walking to work for 12 to 15 minutes.” August 2012 Leeds man jailed for girl kidnap attempt A convicted sex offender who tried to kidnap a 13-year-old girl as she walked home from school has been jailed for five years. Roy Barton grabbed the terrified youngster by the arm and tried to drag her in to his car as she screamed for help during the incident in Middleton, on January 9 this year. A passer-by helped the girl and Barton drove off at speed. Later, he approached the girl again and she ran to another member of the public for help and police were alerted. Jailing Barton for five years, Judge Scott Wolstenholme told him at yesterday’s hearing: “One wonders what would have happened if you had managed to get the 13-year-old victim in your car.” Judge Wolstenholme added: “There must be a substantial custodial sentence, not simply to punish you, but to protect the public from sexual harm from you in future.” Barton, a 30-year-old self-employed barber, tried to kidnap the girl while he was subject to a sexual offences prevention order (SOPO) imposed in October 2010 after he was convicted of exposing himself. Leeds Crown Court heard Barton regularly cruised the streets of south Leeds in his silver Hyundai as he repeatedly pestered young girls and women for sex. A jury last month convicted him of attempted kidnap. He was also found guilty of one charge of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and five counts of breaching a sexual offences prevention order. He was found not guilty of one charge of breaching the SOPO. At the time of attempt kidnap, Barton lived in a flat above his barber’s shop on Westgate, Heckmondwike. He also has a barber’s shop on Wakefield Road in Gildersome, Leeds. The court heard the attempt kidnap was one of eight offences Barton committed on January 9 as he breached his sexual offences prevention order by repeatedly driving alongside women and accosting them. Before he tried to kidnap the young girl, Barton had accosted a 41-year-old woman as she walked with her 10-year-old daughter. And the court heard he left an 18-year-old girl frightened after he drove up to her and ordered her to get in to his car, which she refused to do. Barton’s solicitor Matthew Harding said his client recognises he has problems, adding: “He is an individual who is clearly capable of addressing this behaviour and, most importantly, is willing to work with the relevant authorities to do so.”