Stuart Barratt

A manipulative man from Brownhills has been sentenced to over two years in prison for pressuring an underage girl in Powys into a sexual relationship. Stuart Barratt, who was 28 and 29 at the time of the offences in 2020, exploited a 14-year-old victim in Radnorshire, using threats to control her.

Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard that Barratt first encountered the victim in 2019. The sexual offences began in 2020 when the girl, heavily intoxicated and having blacked out, visited his home. Barratt had sex with her on that occasion and two further times while she was still a teenager. Prosecutor Ffion Tomos detailed how Barratt manipulatively threatened to 'expose' the victim, warning she would lose her family and friends if she tried to end the relationship.

The case was reported to Dyfed-Powys Police in August 2020, prompting Barratt to surrender himself to custody. He initially appeared at Llandrindod Wells Magistrates’ Court in July and pleaded guilty to the charges at Merthyr Crown Court in August. Despite being of previous good character, the court learned from defence representative Marian Lewis that Barratt was suffering from depression at the time, exacerbated by drug use including cocaine and ketamine. Lewis noted his genuine remorse, stating, 'This has blighted his life for the last three-and-a-half years and will blight his life until the rest of his days.'

Recorder Dyfed Llion Thomas condemned Barratt's actions, saying: 'You started, encouraged and carried on a sexual relationship with a child, knowing full well what you were doing was wrong. Make no mistake, you were the adult and took advantage of a child. And pressuring a child was a cruel and nasty thing to do.' Barratt, of Fourth Avenue, Brownhills, near Walsall, was sentenced on Friday, October 6, to 32 months' imprisonment, serving half in custody and half on licence. He must register as a sex offender indefinitely and is subject to a 15-year sexual harm prevention order and restraining order.