LEEDS ENGINEER STEPHEN BARRACLOUGH CONVICTED OF ABUSING SIX-YEAR-OLD GIRL DURING CHURCH TOUR IN CALDERDALE
In a disturbing case that has shocked the community, Stephen Barraclough, a 54-year-old engineer from Leeds, was found guilty of sexually abusing a young girl during a church visit in Calderdale.The incident occurred last June when Barraclough was giving a tour of renovation work at a local church, an activity that was supposed to be educational but tragically turned into a scene of abuse.
According to court proceedings, Barraclough assaulted the six-year-old girl while he was cleaning dirt off her after they had climbed some steps inside the church.
The young girl, who cannot be publicly identified due to legal restrictions, bravely testified at Barraclough’s trial held at Bradford Crown Court last month.
The jury deliberated and ultimately convicted him of assault by penetration, a serious sexual offence.
Following the conviction, Barraclough was sentenced to three years in prison for the sexual assault.
However, the severity of his crimes extended beyond this initial offence.
Police investigations uncovered a disturbing collection of indecent images and extreme pornography on two laptops found at his residence on Well House Road, Roundhay, Leeds.
The analysis revealed approximately 6,000 indecent images of children, along with nearly 500 images depicting extreme pornography involving animals.
Prosecutor Andrew Dallas revealed that Barraclough admitted to distributing between 20 and 30 indecent images to three or four other individuals.
This admission added to the gravity of his offences, highlighting a pattern of disturbing behavior.
The court was also informed that Barraclough had no prior convictions, which made the case even more troubling.
In addition to his prison sentence, Barraclough faces lifelong registration as a sex offender, a legal requirement that mandates regular updates to police authorities about his whereabouts and activities.
Furthermore, he is subject to an indefinite sexual offences prevention order, which restricts any unsupervised contact with individuals under the age of 16, aiming to prevent any future harm.
Judge Colin Burn, presiding over the case, acknowledged that Barraclough had placed his hand inside the girl’s underwear, with part of his hand penetrating her genitals.
The judge emphasized that a prison sentence was unavoidable given the nature of the offence and the evidence presented.
The case has left a lasting impact on the community, raising concerns about safeguarding and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable children from predators.
