Concierge had extreme abuse films at workplace
A LONG-SERVING concierge at a Newcastle apartment block has been jailed after being caught with sick child abuse images.
Police became aware illegal material was being downloaded at the Turnbull Building in the city centre and it was initially suspected residents were responsible.
Officers went to the block in 2017 and found hard drives in an office and 129g of cannabis in a room Glen Barwick had access to.
A court heard Barwick, who was smoking more than 30 cannabis joints a day, was found to have 11 extreme pornography videos on a hard drive on that occasion.
Having refused to answer questions, Barwick was released under investigation but before he could be dealt with for that, he came to the attention of the National Crime Agency’s child exploitation team with regard to his use of the internet at his parents’ house.
In April last year, police went back to the Turnbull Building, where Barwick has worked for around 16 years, with a search warrant.
Claire Anderson, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: “The defendant was flustered and ran out of the fire exit but was chased and detained.”
Barwick’s phone was seized and police got into it despite his refusal to tell them his PIN code.
On the device were 53 of the most serious (category-A) indecent images, 31 category-B and 94 category-C ones, with two category-C videos. The court heard Barwick has a previous conviction for taking indecent images of children, for which he was given a community order in 2001.
The 42-year-old, of Winton Way, Kenton, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images of children and extreme pornography and possessing cannabis.
Jailing him for nine months, Judge Tim Gittins told Barwick: “As you accept, you are someone who has a predilection and interest in young children, particularly young female children, under the age of consent.”
The judge said he had “surprisingly” kept his job after his arrest in 2017 for the bestiality and “genital injury” images.
Referring to the indecent images of children, Judge Gittins said: “Each and every viewing of such material is a further abuse of such victims. I accept you have been distressed by your paedophilic tendencies, but not so distressed you sought further help.
“I accept you are remorseful and have lived a somewhat isolated existence and care for your elderly parents, who would be harmed by not having you available to assist them but, frankly, you should have thought of them as well.
“This is offending that is too serious to merit anything other than a custodial sentence.”
Barwick was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and must sign the sex offender register for the next 10 years.
John Wilkinson, mitigating, said: “He fully accepted to the probation service the problem he has in terms of his sexual attraction to children.
“He has, in the past, completed a sex offender treatment programme
some considerable time ago. He was able to control the problem he clearly has.
“He is ashamed of his behaviour, not surprisingly. In interview, he was tearful and shaking when talking to the probation officer.”
Mr Wilkinson said Barwick was in a relationship but that ended after his arrest in 2017 and he lives with his elderly parents. His dad has Alzheimer’s and he looks after him and his mum.
Mr Wilkinson added: “He is described as leading an isolated existence. Custody would be devastating to him.”