In 2019, the Offender Database reported that Barry Crowley, then 75, of Ludgvan, near Penzance, Cornwall, was sentenced to eight years in prison for historical sexual offences against two children. On Friday, 24 May 2019, Crowley appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentencing after a jury convicted him of a series of “savage” attacks that took place more than three decades apart.
The investigation established that Crowley’s “vile” behaviour began in the 1970s. The first victim reported being sexually touched under her clothes on four occasions, including during incidents in a lorry Crowley drove for work. He also forced the child to masturbate him. The court heard that Derbyshire Constabulary had “fobbed off” the victim when she first attempted to report the abuse in the 1980s. It was only after a more recent investigation by Devon and Cornwall Police that the full extent of his conduct against a second young girl was uncovered and brought to trial.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
Judge Robert Linford emphasised that Crowley’s actions represented an “appalling breach of trust” that had haunted his victims for decades. The court reported that both survivors suffered from lifelong feelings of depression, self-loathing, and betrayal. The judge emphasised that Crowley showed no remorse and had presented a “ludicrous defence” during the trial, which the jury ultimately saw through.
The prosecution emphasised that the abuse destroyed not only the lives of the victims but also the wider family units around them. Although the defence emphasised Crowley’s advanced age, arguing he would likely spend the remainder of his healthy life behind bars, the judge emphasised that the severity of the crimes necessitated a significant custodial term. For his crimes in Cornwall, the court determined that consecutive sentences were required to reflect the distinct harm caused to each of the two girls.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in England, Barry Crowley was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: Eight years in immediate custody.
- Sentence Breakdown: Four years for the counts relating to the first victim and four years for the counts relating to the second victim, to run consecutively.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are in effect for life.
- Convictions: Found guilty of four counts of indecent assault, indecency with a child, three sexual assaults of a child under 13, and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Crowley was managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Devon and Cornwall Police and the prison estate. Due to the historical nature of his offending and his use of a work vehicle to facilitate abuse, his management involved high-level scrutiny of his past and present conduct.
As a lifetime member of the Sex Offenders Register, Crowley must comply with mandatory notification requirements regarding his residence in Ludgvan, Penzance. Authorities state that the conviction provided a sense of justice for the survivors after decades of silence. Any breach of his registration conditions or his licence terms upon release would result in his immediate arrest and return to Truro Crown Court.
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