In 2021, the Offender Register confirmed that A 74-year-old man from Yeovil had been sentenced to 17 years in prison for the sexual assault of young boys.
Barry Dunthorn, of Hendford Grove, was convicted of nine counts of sexual assault against four male victims, who were between the ages of 12 and 16, after a two-week trial at Taunton Crown Court.
These comprised:
- Three counts of indecent assault on a male under the age of 14 and three counts of indecent assault on a male under the age of 16; this violates Section 15 (1) of the Sexual Offences Act 1956, which was in effect before 2003.
- One count of paying for the services of a minor under 18, and two counts of sexual activity with a child under 16.
Between 1981 and 2018, the offences were committed in South and East Somerset.
The court was informed of Dunthorn’s practice of encouraging his victims to engage in sexual activities with him in exchange for cash payments and gifts.
The most recent offences pertain to the sexual abuse of a 14-year-old victim, who was compensated with substantial sums of cash in exchange for engaging in sexual activity over 12 months.
Dunthorn did not exhibit any remorse for his actions at any stage during the court process.
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