A 67-year-old man from Rotherham has gone on trial at Hull Crown Court accused of 29 sexual offences committed against five victims, including the prolonged abuse of a girl starting from when she was six years old.
Malcolm Barnes, of Newman Road, Moorgate, Rotherham, faces an indictment detailing decades of alleged sexual offences. The charges encompass 22 counts of indecent assault, two counts of indecency with a child, one count of rape, one count of assault by penetration, two counts of sexual assault, and one count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. During the trial, Barnes entered guilty pleas to three counts of indecent assault, whilst denying all other allegations.
On Friday 23 October 2026, one of the complainants gave evidence from behind a witness screen. She described Barnes as a “monster” and told jurors that the sustained abuse had inflicted profound, lasting psychological trauma that causes her to suffer from severe night terrors to this day.
The complainant detailed how the abuse began when she was just six years of age, alleging that Barnes repeatedly exposed himself to her and carried out sexual assaults across multiple areas of his residence, including the cellar, the landing, and the kitchen.
Prosecuting barrister Louise Reevell placed evidence before the court detailing an online exchange between the woman and Barnes that took place on Facebook in 2014. The court heard the survivor identified an account operated by Barnes under the moniker “Mad Malc Mad Malc” and initiated contact, writing: “Mad Malc Mad Malc, that sounds about right, you pervert. Don’t worry scum, I will get justice one day.”
The prosecution revealed that Barnes replied: “So so sorry love, sorry.”
The woman continued: “How can you say that after everything you did to me from being a little girl? I still have nightmares.”
Barnes responded: “So sorry love, I lost everything.”
The complainant then messaged: “Tell me why you did it, I need answers. How many other little girls have you ruined?”
The court heard that the woman formally reported the matters to the police in 2023. Under cross-examination by defence counsel Dermot Hughes, the complainant was asked whether her delayed report was motivated by vengeance. She firmly denied the suggestion, explaining that she had previously lacked the psychological readiness to approach law enforcement. She also rejected suggestions that her present view of Barnes was distorting her childhood memories, maintaining that her recollection of the abuse was clear.
A defence account was put to the jury suggesting that Barnes had kissed the woman over her underwear after she had shown it to him as a child. The complainant vehemently denied the assertion, stating that Barnes was lying. When defence counsel suggested she had been an assertive child capable of objecting or stopping the behaviour, she told the jury that she was terrified of Barnes and only found the voice and confidence to speak about the abuse as an adult.
The trial of Malcolm Barnes continues at Hull Crown Court.
Image – Anonymous Artist Impression
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