STUART WESTWOOD'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN BARROW: SEX OFFENDER'S NIGHTMARE TERROR

In a chilling series of criminal acts that have sent shockwaves through the community of Barrow, Stuart Westwood, a 46-year-old man with a disturbing history, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for a series of heinous offenses involving online predation and harassment.

Westwood, a shipyard worker from Barrow, orchestrated a malicious scheme between September 2017 and October 2018 that involved creating dozens of fake profiles on the dating site Plenty of Fish. Under the guise of a woman, he fabricated a series of sickening sexual fantasies involving her and her young child, aiming to lure paedophiles and other predators to her home. His actions were not limited to online deception; he actively used photographs of the woman, including images of her in her wedding dress and family photos from Disneyland, to send men to her residence at all hours of the day and night.

The consequences of Westwood’s manipulations were devastating for the victim. At least ten individuals arrived at her home, believing they had been invited to engage in sexual acts with her and her child. The woman, overwhelmed and terrified, described her emotional state as being in ruins, stating, “I feel like my life isn’t my own. I feel like I am being watched.” To protect herself, she installed CCTV cameras and became obsessive about monitoring them, even enlisting her parents to stay with her for her safety. Her sense of security was shattered, and her social and professional life suffered immensely.

Prosecutor Paul Evans highlighted the severity of the situation, emphasizing that “it is difficult to conceive of a scenario that could have been more troubling for a mother living generally alone with her small child, than the prospect of sex offenders literally knocking on her door.” Witnesses reported disturbing incidents, including one man performing a sex act as he approached her front door at 7 a.m., and another who became aggressive and abusive when her father tried to send him away. The victim made it clear that none of the online profiles or messages were her own, asserting, “I want the world to know none of the online profiles were me, none of the disgusting words were mine.”

She further explained how her life had fallen apart—her work, social interactions, and home life all suffered. She expressed her fear of going out in public and her reluctance to engage online, describing herself as socially isolated. Judge Robert Altham condemned Westwood’s actions, describing the effort and thought behind his harassment as “chilling.”

Interestingly, Westwood had initially sought support from the woman, mistakenly suspecting her ex-husband of being her stalker. His involvement only came to light when one disturbed man handed over his Plenty of Fish profile to the police after being disturbed by Westwood’s twisted propositions. Westwood was arrested at his home on Andover Street when officers found him emerging from the bathroom holding a mobile phone, which the prosecution described as “a smoking gun.”

During his arrest, Westwood was in the process of sending the woman’s postcode to an undercover officer, believing he was setting up another paedophile. Despite having evidence in his hand, he denied being her stalker and maintained his innocence in a pre-sentence report, even after being convicted by a jury. His criminal history includes a 2013 conviction for possessing extreme pornography and indecent images, as well as publishing sick fantasies involving a former partner, her child, and their family pet.

Judge Altham emphasized the danger Westwood posed, stating, “This is a man with little idea about the border between fantasy and reality. He poses a real risk to any partners or children and that risk is obvious and serious.” Consequently, Westwood was sentenced to eight years in prison, with an additional two-year extended license, and was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order to prevent further offenses.

In a related case from October 2013, Westwood, then 40, narrowly avoided a prison sentence after admitting to downloading over 160 indecent images of children and videos depicting sexual acts on live animals. He was given a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and was ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years. The police had seized a computer, external hard drive, and memory stick from his residence in July of that year, revealing the extent of his disturbing collection. The images and videos involved children aged between five and fifteen, and the animal abuse footage included various species such as dogs, horses, goats, monkeys, pigs, and eels. Magistrates at Preston Crown Court recognized the seriousness of his crimes, especially given their prolonged nature dating back to 2009.

Westwood’s criminal activities have left a dark mark on the community of Barrow, with authorities emphasizing the ongoing risk he poses. His case underscores the importance of vigilance and the need for stringent measures to protect vulnerable individuals from predatory behavior and exploitation.