'Evil' man jailed for multiple child sex offences

A child sex offender who assaulted multiple girls has been described as "cruel, evil and manipulative" by one of his victims as he is jailed for 23 years.

Michael Barker sexually assaulted girls who were known to him between 1974 and 1997 at various addresses in Swindon and Chippenham in Wiltshire and Bishop Auckland in Durham.

In October, the 72-year-old was found guilty of six counts of indecent assault, two counts of rape, and gross indecency with a child. He was sentenced and jailed at Swindon Crown Court on Monday.

"He is a cruel, evil, manipulative sex offender who is never going to hurt anyone again," said one of Barker's victims, adding: "I am no longer a victim, I am a survivor."

Barker, of Albert Hill, Durham and previously of Swindon, was brought to sentence following an investigation by Wiltshire Police's Child Abuse Investigation Team.

In an impact statement, one of the women he abused said it began at a very young age.

"[He] took away my childhood, my innocence and part of my adult life. I suffered horrific nightmares where I would wake up crying, a fear of being alone in my own home," she said.

The victim added: "After many years of torment and fear and pushing the past years to the back of my head, the truth finally came out. I had to accept that I was going to have to tell strangers the most horrific life I had endured for years.

"It made me feel constantly sick but deep down I knew I had to for myself and the other victims."

Police previously praised Barker's victims for sharing their stories in a bid to find justice.

Det Con Nicola Ainsley said the bravery of the women "enabled us to ensure Barker was put before the courts where they reached a guilty verdict".

Calling Barker "an abhorrent individual", she said: "He abused these young girls, often in their own homes where they should have felt most safe, subsequently robbing them of their childhoods.

"His behaviour escalated over the years and when charged, he continued to deny any wrongdoing, forcing the case to go to trial and causing further distress to his victims."

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