Barrie Hartley, aged 45, of Rimswell Holt, Greengates, Bradford, West Yorkshire, has been sentenced to 12 years and six months’ imprisonment at Bradford Crown Court after raping a vulnerable woman and sexually assaulting a second victim whilst under police investigation.
The court heard that Hartley carried out the initial sexual assault and rape against the first victim when she was in a particularly vulnerable condition, leaving her severely traumatised and hysterical.
Following his initial arrest by West Yorkshire Police, Hartley asserted that no sexual contact had taken place between them.
However, forensic testing refuted his account after scientific analysis matched his DNA profile to deposits recovered from the victim’s clothing.
In a Victim Personal Statement submitted to Bradford Crown Court, the survivor detailed the enduring consequences of the offence:
“The person I was before no longer exists.”
She further explained that the attack left her living in an ongoing state of fear that was “persistent, overwhelming, and inescapable”, permanently altering her daily life.
Under UK legislation, victims of sexual offences are protected by lifelong statutory anonymity.
While released under investigation in connection with the first assault, Hartley targeted a second woman, subjecting her to further sexual assaults.
Upon being re-arrested, Hartley again denied criminal conduct.
In her statement to the court, the second victim described the impact of the assaults as “devastating and lasting”, recounting how the offences caused severe psychological damage, loss of self-worth, and persistent feelings of shame and humiliation.
Hartley appeared for sentencing via video link from HMP Leeds.
His Honour Judge Christopher Smith told Hartley that there were “very real concerns” regarding the threat he posed to the public.
While Judge Smith considered the imposition of an extended sentence on the statutory grounds of dangerousness, he determined that the risk could be managed through stringent licence conditions upon his eventual release.
Judge Smith imposed consecutive sentences:
Six years’ imprisonment for the rape of the first victim
Six years and six months’ imprisonment for the sexual assaults committed against the second victim
Total sentence: 12 years and six months (150 months)
In addition to the custodial term, the court imposed an indefinite restraining order prohibiting Hartley from contacting either victim for life, and ordered that he remain subject to the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders Register for an indefinite period (for life).
Release Calculation: Under UK sentencing legislation governing standard determinate custodial sentences of seven years or more for serious sexual offences, statutory early release at the halfway mark does not apply. Hartley is subject to the two-thirds custodial requirement, meaning he must serve eight years and four months (100 months) in prison custody before becoming eligible to apply to the Parole Board for release on licence under the supervision of the Probation Service.
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