VIJAY BARRETTO SENTENCED IN BASINGSTOKE FOR OFFENSES INVOLVING CHILD-PREDATOR TACTICS
Vijay Barretto, aged 49, was apprehended by a group of paedophile hunters after attempting to meet someone he believed was an underage individual following messaging on adult accounts.Basingstoke Magistrates' Court heard that Barretto thought he was communicating with two 13-year-olds and a 12-year-old when he sent messages such as 'I want to be naked with you?' and 'Will you have my children?'.
At the time of the offenses, he was residing on Elizabeth Road in Basingstoke, but he has since moved.
His latest address, provided during the hearing, was given as Queensbury Road, although the town was not specified.
The prosecution stated that Barretto sent messages between November 30 and December 26, 2017, employing what they described as 'the type of language the Crown says is wholly inappropriate.' Prosecutor David Fossler pointed out that 'All three profiles made clear very early on that they were a child.' Barretto appeared before Basingstoke Magistrates' Court on Monday.
In his defense, Ms.
Bonavia noted that there were no prior or subsequent indications of offending behavior, nor was there any evidence suggesting he was attempting to meet children or decoys, suggesting the actions might be driven by a 'sexual fantasy.' She added that Barretto was confronted by paedophile hunters when he tried to meet the adult account.
Ms.
Bonavia explained, 'He appears to have become very isolated and was turning to gambling and using alcohol – he was in a bad place.' She further mentioned that Barretto had been employed and was sending money to his family in India.
She emphasized, 'If he loses his employment, his whole point of being has gone.' The defense argued that he was making efforts to recover and did not harbor intentions to harm anyone.
'He has demonstrated to the court that he is not someone who is an ongoing danger,' she added.
Ultimately, Barretto was not sentenced to jail but received an 18-month community order, which includes 35 days of rehabilitation activities and 200 hours of unpaid work.
Mrs.
Ashton, Chair of Magistrates, stated, 'We make the order because we believe the cases are so serious.' In addition to the community order, Barretto was ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £85 victim surcharge.
