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| Serial paedophile jailed for life | Serial paedophile jailed for life |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A paedophile who filmed his attack on an 11-year-old girl has been jailed for life for a total of 89 offences. | A paedophile who filmed his attack on an 11-year-old girl has been jailed for life for a total of 89 offences. |
| Anthony Barron, 54, of Wantage, was convicted earlier on charges of rape and attempted rape. | Anthony Barron, 54, of Wantage, was convicted earlier on charges of rape and attempted rape. |
| Oxford Crown Court heard the computer engineer also admitted 87 charges of sexual offences relating to at least 10 girls between 1995 and 2006. | Oxford Crown Court heard the computer engineer also admitted 87 charges of sexual offences relating to at least 10 girls between 1995 and 2006. |
| The jury heard Barron, who was given a minimum tariff of 18 years, filmed some attacks as "souvenirs". | |
| Some of Barron's victims were as young as three. | Some of Barron's victims were as young as three. |
| The 87 charges he admitted included 27 indecent assaults, 11 sexual assaults and three attempted rapes. | The 87 charges he admitted included 27 indecent assaults, 11 sexual assaults and three attempted rapes. |
| This is undoubtedly the worst case of child abuse that I have seen in my 30 years' experience of prosecuting criminal cases Senior prosecution lawyer Jenny Jonckheer | This is undoubtedly the worst case of child abuse that I have seen in my 30 years' experience of prosecuting criminal cases Senior prosecution lawyer Jenny Jonckheer |
| The court heard the grandfather, from Grove, lured the children to play at his home with toys and games and then bribed them with sweets and ice lollies not to say what happened. | The court heard the grandfather, from Grove, lured the children to play at his home with toys and games and then bribed them with sweets and ice lollies not to say what happened. |
| When police raided his home after one of the children, aged five, told her mother that Barron had exposed himself to her, they found a stash of toys suitable for children from the age of two. | When police raided his home after one of the children, aged five, told her mother that Barron had exposed himself to her, they found a stash of toys suitable for children from the age of two. |
| But it was his "sickening video library" that allowed police to accurately track his offending. | But it was his "sickening video library" that allowed police to accurately track his offending. |
| Officers also discovered in his home what prosecutors described as the "tools" of his abuse. | Officers also discovered in his home what prosecutors described as the "tools" of his abuse. |
| 'Became upset' | 'Became upset' |
| The court was told Barron befriended the parents through roles at primary schools, youth clubs and cub groups, persuading them to allow their children to stay at his home. | The court was told Barron befriended the parents through roles at primary schools, youth clubs and cub groups, persuading them to allow their children to stay at his home. |
| Once there he would groom the children into allowing him to abuse them in front of a video camera. | Once there he would groom the children into allowing him to abuse them in front of a video camera. |
| When the children who were being video-taped became upset or objected, Barron would say, "We don't have to do anything you don't want to do" and then stop the session, the court heard. | When the children who were being video-taped became upset or objected, Barron would say, "We don't have to do anything you don't want to do" and then stop the session, the court heard. |
| But he would make another attempt on future occasions. | But he would make another attempt on future occasions. |
| The jury heard that in some instances, other children could be heard in another room and on one occasion, a child's mother was elsewhere in the house unaware of what was happening. | The jury heard that in some instances, other children could be heard in another room and on one occasion, a child's mother was elsewhere in the house unaware of what was happening. |
| Anthony Barron is a cunning, devious and extremely dangerous predator and a most evil man Det Con Bob Owen | Anthony Barron is a cunning, devious and extremely dangerous predator and a most evil man Det Con Bob Owen |
| Police officers were able to make a comprehensive list of his offences by identifying the children on the video tapes. | Police officers were able to make a comprehensive list of his offences by identifying the children on the video tapes. |
| Sentencing Barron, Judge Julian Hall, said that the offences were "as serious as I think I have ever come across. I see no reason not to jail you for life." | Sentencing Barron, Judge Julian Hall, said that the offences were "as serious as I think I have ever come across. I see no reason not to jail you for life." |
| Judge Hall added that he had not demonstrated "a hint of sympathy" for his victims who he treated "as if they were toys". | Judge Hall added that he had not demonstrated "a hint of sympathy" for his victims who he treated "as if they were toys". |
| Barron abused 11 children, including two four-year-old twins, over a period of nine years. | Barron abused 11 children, including two four-year-old twins, over a period of nine years. |
| Det Con Bob Owen, from Thames Valley Police, said: "In my 28 years service as a police officer, I have never dealt with a case of child abuse on this scale. | Det Con Bob Owen, from Thames Valley Police, said: "In my 28 years service as a police officer, I have never dealt with a case of child abuse on this scale. |
| "Anthony Barron is a cunning, devious and extremely dangerous predator and a most evil man. | "Anthony Barron is a cunning, devious and extremely dangerous predator and a most evil man. |
| 'Seemed genuine' | 'Seemed genuine' |
| "He has caused untold distress and suffering to his victims and their families." | "He has caused untold distress and suffering to his victims and their families." |
| The mother of one of his four-year-old victims said: "He came across as really nice, genuine, charming. A really nice person, is the only way to put it. | The mother of one of his four-year-old victims said: "He came across as really nice, genuine, charming. A really nice person, is the only way to put it. |
| "[He appeared] caring and interested in how the children were doing, in some ways my welfare as well, after my husband and I separated. | "[He appeared] caring and interested in how the children were doing, in some ways my welfare as well, after my husband and I separated. |
| "He just seemed really genuine and nice. | "He just seemed really genuine and nice. |
| "I was absolutely furious with him, then felt guilty with myself because I felt I hadn't protected my own children." | "I was absolutely furious with him, then felt guilty with myself because I felt I hadn't protected my own children." |
| She added: "I was shocked, very shocked and horrified. | She added: "I was shocked, very shocked and horrified. |
| "Horrified that this man had got away with it for so long. | "Horrified that this man had got away with it for so long. |
| "It's really very frightening. How does someone do that for so long and never get caught? | "It's really very frightening. How does someone do that for so long and never get caught? |
| "He's done this to so many people and never been stopped." | "He's done this to so many people and never been stopped." |
| 'Horrific abuse' | 'Horrific abuse' |
| The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) welcomed the verdict. | The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) welcomed the verdict. |
| Senior CPS lawyer Jenny Jonckheer said: "This is undoubtedly the worst case of child abuse that I have seen in my 30 years' experience of prosecuting criminal cases. | Senior CPS lawyer Jenny Jonckheer said: "This is undoubtedly the worst case of child abuse that I have seen in my 30 years' experience of prosecuting criminal cases. |
| "Anthony Barron subjected his victims to the most brutal and horrific abuse imaginable, sometimes whilst they were asleep. | "Anthony Barron subjected his victims to the most brutal and horrific abuse imaginable, sometimes whilst they were asleep. |
| "These crimes were especially sickening because of the way that he made video recordings of the sexual offending, which showed his apparent enjoyment of the abuse." | "These crimes were especially sickening because of the way that he made video recordings of the sexual offending, which showed his apparent enjoyment of the abuse." |