Barton’s son reveals ‘three years of hell’
AFORMER Southport councillor whose father was convicted of stealing millions of pounds from elderly residents has spoken of “three years of hell” after being acquitted of money laundering.
David Richard Barton, who formerly represented Dukes Ward for the Conservatives and later as an independent councillor, walked free from court on the directions of a judge before a trial was due to take place.
His dad, David Barton senior, 64, cheated OAPs out of their life savings at luxurious Barton Park Nursing Home on Oxford Road in Birkdale.
He was convicted after the longest trial in the history of Liverpool Crown Court – lasting more than a year.
Barton snr, of Oxford Road, befriended then betrayed his wealthy and vulnerable victims and was jailed for 21 years in July for frauds totalling more than £4m.
David Richard, 28, and his younger brother, David Charles Barton, were accused of money laundering after Barton Sr used their bank accounts to hide £130,000 to keep the business afloat.
Both denied the charges and were to face trial in January.
But after reviewing the case, prosecutors decided to offer no evidence against David Charles Barton, who was found not guilty.
And last week, following a submission of no case to answer by David Richard Barton’s defence lawyers, a judge ruled that he should also be acquitted.
The former councillor said he had been “let down” throughout the previous three years and claimed the saga had cost him career opportunities inside and out of politics, denied him the chance to appear on national TV, and led to him being threatened with a knife in public.
He said he was considering a return to politics now that criminal proceedings against him are over, despite having faced verbal abuse and racial slurs culminating in a man threatening him with a knife while the then-councillor was with his teenage sister in Southport town centre.
He said: “It was about two years ago when I was assisting some residents in Nevill Street. There was a chap outside, in his 40s, well built with dark hair, and he said ‘oh you’re that guy whose family goes round formally robbing people’. I could see something shiny coming out of his pocket.
“Thankfully, I had someone with me who dived in the way and took him down. That saved my life really.”
He added: “This has stopped me from seeking employment elsewhere and has in fact directly impacted at times on my progression as a local diplomat, resulting in me losing opportunities to represent my constituents.
“I should like to thank the many people and businesses across the town who have supported me throughout this horrible saga where other people in authority have let me down.”
David Richard Barton was suspended by the Conservatives after being charged in 2016, before becoming independent and did not stand for re-election earlier this year.
But he claims he is now in discussions at “a higher level” than the local party and has received “favourable” feedback about a return to politics.
He declined to comment on his father’s conviction or the impact on the victims while other court proceedings are ongoing.
Rob Mann of Draycott Browne solicitors, who secured the acquittal, said that the fraud case covered an 18-year period and involved more than 100,000 pages of case notes.
He said: “We were able to secure consideration of a legal argument, submitting that there was no case to answer, before the scheduled retrial was due to begin.
“The trial judge was successfully persuaded that there was insufficient evidence for the case to be placed back before a jury.
“We all wish David well in putting his life back on track after it having essentially been placed on hold for the last three years.”