Birmingham Post

Killer was child of incest who described himself as ‘the devil’

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AARON Barley was jailed for life, with a 30-year minimum term, in October last year at Birmingham Crown Court.

But the “unduly lenient” sentence was increased by an extra four years at the Court of Appeal in December.

Three judges agreed with Solicitor General Robert Buckland that the minimum term was insufficie­nt in “this most exceptiona­l and grave case”.

Barley, 24, was taken into the Wilkinson family and given a fresh chance in life after Tracey Wilkinson spotted him sleeping rough outside a supermarke­t.

The caring family offered him a job and invited him to spend Christmas Day with them.

Following the court case, it emerged that Barley had made threats to kill years before, and described himself as “the devil”.

Before drifting to Stourbridg­e, he had lived in and around Birmingham, and had been involved in mostly petty crime.

Born the child of incest – his parents were uncle and niece – Barley was an orphan by the age of six.

He grew up in the Bromsgrove and Stourbridg­e area but spent most of his childhood in care homes. He was expelled from Uplands Children’s Home in Worcesters­hire for attacking other youngsters and stealing a staff member’s car.

At the age of 11 he went missing and was the subject of a police appeal.

 ??  ?? > The Wilkinson’s family home in Stourbridg­e where Barley struck
> The Wilkinson’s family home in Stourbridg­e where Barley struck
 ??  ?? > Killer Aaron Barley
> Killer Aaron Barley

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