RYAN BARR OF ST HELENS SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC DOMESTIC ABUSE AND ANIMAL CRUELTY IN LIVERPOOL

Ryan Stephen Barr, a man from Four Acre Lane, Clock Face, St Helens, has been convicted of a series of heinous acts of domestic violence and cruelty. Born on March 26, 1996, Barr, who falsely claims to have appeared in television shows such as Hollyoaks and Waterloo Road under the stage name Romeo Barr, was found guilty of subjecting his former girlfriend to a pattern of aggressive and controlling behavior that escalated into violent assaults, including the brutal abuse of her pet dog.

According to court proceedings at Liverpool Crown Court, Barr’s relationship with the young woman from Liverpool developed rapidly but soon took a dark turn. The prosecutor detailed how Barr’s behavior became increasingly aggressive, especially when under the influence of alcohol. He would call her degrading names like 'slag,' spit on her, and throw objects during episodes of drunken rage. Over time, these violent tendencies persisted even when he was sober, revealing a deeper pattern of controlling and jealous conduct.

The victim recounted multiple disturbing incidents, including Barr kicking her in the face as she bent down to pick up a towel, after he had poured ice-cold water over her while she was showering. She described her distress and how Barr dismissively told her, “I don’t even feel bad for you crying.” The court heard that Barr also physically assaulted her with a hairbrush and remote control, pulled her hair, and even stubbing out cigarettes on her back and neck while she was asleep. On one particularly shocking occasion, bleach was poured on her, and she explained that it took days to fully remove the smell from her body.

Most disturbingly, Barr was also violent towards their shared dog, forcing the young woman to watch as he inflicted harm on the animal. The court was told that he would hit the dog, adding to the emotional trauma experienced by the victim.

The final assault occurred on July 4, 2018, when the victim was at a nightclub in Liverpool. Barr saw her there, spat at her, and bit her jaw. He then followed her back to her university accommodation, where security staff intervened and ejected him from the premises. Following the breakup, Barr continued to harass her by making her take out multiple loans and bombarding her with a barrage of text messages and calls. Some messages were apologetic, expressing love, while others were abusive, containing derogatory terms such as 'slut.'

It was also revealed that Barr had a prior conviction for common assault against the same victim. He received a community order on May 17, 2018, but subsequently failed to comply with its conditions on two occasions. Despite these issues, his legal team argued that Barr had recognized his need for help, and his guilty pleas had spared the victim from testifying in court. They also highlighted that the community order had a positive impact over the past two years, suggesting a realistic chance of rehabilitation.

At the time of sentencing, Barr was awaiting a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to begin employment with Amazon. His lawyer explained that he lived with his grandmother due to childhood trauma and that she depended on his support.

Judge Menary described some of Barr’s violence as “particularly nasty” and criticized his jealousy, which appeared to be unfounded. The judge condemned Barr’s overall conduct, stating, “Much of the relationship was marked by appalling and disgraceful behaviour on your part. You were overbearing towards her, abusive, threatening, and violent.” He also condemned Barr’s financial abuse, noting that he had taken out unnecessary and excessive loans, leaving the victim burdened with debt. The judge detailed the severity of the violence, including instances of stubbing cigarettes on her neck and pouring bleach on her, which caused lasting distress.

While acknowledging that Barr had not offended since, was still young, and had a new job, the judge emphasized that his behavior needed further intervention. He ordered Barr to serve a 15-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, along with a 20-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and 150 hours of unpaid work. Additionally, Barr was ordered to pay £500 in compensation to the victim and was subject to a two-year restraining order to prevent any contact.

In addition to his criminal activities, Barr’s online presence portrayed him as the CEO of a clothing company called MUSÉ London. However, the company’s Instagram page, which had only four followers and had not been updated for months, along with its website and Facebook profile, have since been deactivated. It was also revealed in January 2021 by The Daily Star that Ryan Barr was a fantasist, and his claimed acting career was entirely fabricated.