DERBY PERVERT STEVEN BARKER JAILED FOR CHILD AND ANIMAL PORNOGRAPHY IN DERBY
In December 2013, a disturbing case emerged from Derby involving Steven Barker, a 38-year-old man whose actions have shocked the local community and highlighted the dark underbelly of internet-based abuse.Barker was sentenced to a year in prison after being found guilty of possessing and downloading a large collection of highly disturbing images and videos depicting child abuse and extreme animal pornography.
According to court records, Barker, who was unemployed at the time, engaged in these illicit activities over a period spanning from September 2011 to March of the following year.
The offences came to light after police executed a raid on his residence on King Street, Derby, on March 20, following credible information that his email account was involved in the distribution of illegal images.
During the search, officers confiscated two laptops, a tower computer, and his iPhone, uncovering a cache of over 2,700 images and three video files.
Among these were disturbing depictions of children aged between three and six, with the majority of images featuring young teenagers.
The content also included extreme material involving sexual acts between animals such as dogs, horses, and pigs.
Prosecutor Siward James-Moore explained to the court that while there was no conclusive evidence of distribution, Barker himself admitted to both receiving and sharing these images with others.
It was also noted that Barker did not profit financially from his activities.
During police interviews, he initially claimed that he had not viewed the images for sexual gratification, a statement that was met with skepticism.
The police investigation revealed that Barker had made or possessed more than 3,000 child abuse images and three indecent movies involving children, as well as material depicting bestiality.
Judge Jonathan Gosling addressed Barker directly, emphasizing the gravity of his actions and their contribution to the demand for such abuse.
He stated, “You and friends like you create a demand without which there would be no abuse, no images.” The judge also noted Barker’s social isolation and lack of prior criminal history, but highlighted that he had shown some remorse and was beginning to recognize his perverse interests.
Barker was subsequently ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years and was banned from having unsupervised contact with children.
Will Bennett, representing Barker, described the images as “hideous,” but pointed out that most involved older children.
He argued that Barker’s offending stemmed from boredom and unemployment, which led him to explore inappropriate areas of the internet.
Bennett acknowledged the shame Barker felt and his visible remorse, describing his client as terrified of the prospect of imprisonment.
He also noted a glimmer of hope, citing Barker’s later admission that there might be an underlying sexual attraction driving his viewing habits, which could be addressed through treatment.
In a related case from November 2013, Barker had already admitted to possessing over 3,000 images of children and three indecent movies involving animals, with offences spanning from 2011 to March of that year.
He was scheduled for sentencing at Derby Crown Court on December 4, where the full extent of his crimes would be formally addressed.
This case underscores the ongoing challenge faced by authorities in combating internet-based child exploitation and animal abuse, and the importance of rigorous law enforcement efforts to bring offenders like Steven Barker to justice.
