Locations
Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, NG19
Description
A pervert music teacher gave two underage girls drugs and sexually assaulted them in a tent at a Derbyshire music festival. Richard Barlow was also found to have indecent images of children after assaulting the girls at the Rock and Blues Festival at the Coney Grey Showground in Pentrich near Belper.
Nottinghamshire Live reported that one of his victims was left suicidal, depressed and anxious and another constantly relives the experience, Nottingham Crown Court heard. Barlow, 39, ran Instru-Tech Ltd in Mansfield prior to his arrest.
Sentencing him, Recorder Michael Auty QC said: "It seems that they did not take much of the cocaine. It had an immediate impact, particularly on one girl, who was unfamiliar with the drug and how to take it.
It certainly stupefied them for moments. You undressed them both and penetrated the vagina of each of them. I regard what you did as having elements of real wickedness to it."
The judge added that Barlow giving the girls the drug "is indicative of a process you must have given appreciative thought". He also said that the girls were vulnerable by way of their age".
Turning to the two victims, Recorder Auty said: "I hope you are able to make something of the life that lies ahead of you. You are two remarkable young women with bright futures and I wish you all the very best."
The date of the offence was not disclosed but Barlow, formerly of Mansfield but now of no fixed abode, was sentenced to a total of 15 years behind bars for eight offences relating to sexual activity with children and possession of indecent images.
Sarah Phelan, mitigating, said [Barlow] knows he is going to custody for a very long time".
The Rock and Blues festival at which the assaults occurred runs for one weekend a year and is held at the Coney Grey Showground in Pentrich, between Belper and Alfreton. The festival organisers have been approached for comment.
Richard Howe, Detective Constable at Nottinghamshire Police, said: Barlow exploited girls who were less than half his age. As we revealed during our investigation, he knew full well that what he was doing was wrong but carried on with his offending regardless.
His victims, who have shown enormous courage and dignity during this process, must live every day with the memory not only of what Barlow did to them, but also of the crown court trial he forced them to sit through as he attempted to defend the indefensible.
I am pleased that he has finally been exposed for what he is and hope this case also serves as a reminder to other men who think they can get away with abusing children. All it takes is one call to the police for them to be exposed and shamed for what they are.