Rapist who attacked women and children jailed

A “manipulative sex offender” who raped children and women for decades has been sentenced to 24 years in prison.

Peter Barnes, 57, was found guilty of 43 sexual offences, including four counts of rape of two women and five children aged between nine and 15, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.

He had previously admitted to a case of sexual assault.

The first cases of abuse occurred in the 1990s, the most recent in 2023.

Barnes, from Accrington, was also given an extended licence period of six years at Preston Crown Court.

“No mercy”

In October 2022, a woman reported to police that Barnes had sexually abused her as a child, the CPS said.

During the course of the investigation, other women came forward and admitted that he had abused them too.

Barnes, who initially denied all crimes but then pleaded guilty to one count before the trial began, was not in the dock when the verdict was announced.

He refused to participate in person or via video link.

Lead prosecutor Alex Mann said Barnes was a “manipulative sex offender” who targeted children as young as nine and showed “no remorse.”

His victims were forced to relive the ordeal, he said, “which further aggravated the severe trauma his actions had caused.”

“I can only hope that now that Barnes is incarcerated, the women can move on with their lives,” he added.

Det Con Hazel Richardson of Lancashire Police said his offending was “reprehensible and has caused great trauma to his victims”.

“The victims showed great courage in coming forward,” she said.

Barnes was given a lifetime sexual assault prevention order and placed on the sex offenders’ register for life.

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