Luton man jailed for decades-long campaign of sexual abuse against women and girls
Barry Tatum, 78, has been sentenced to 10 years plus three on licence
A 78-year-old man from Luton has been sentenced to a decade behind bars after being convicted of sexually assaulting and abusing multiple women and girls over a period spanning 30 years.
Barry Tatum, of Regis Road, came to officer's attention in August 2017 when one of his victims reported being sexually abused by him. This initial disclosure prompted the Protecting Vulnerable People (PVP) team to launch a thorough investigation, which led to Tatum’s arrest.
As inquiries continued, seven additional victims spanning various ages came forward, revealing incidents of abuse dating as far back as the late 1980s. The extent of his offences led to Tatum being charged with 23 counts. Following a five-week trial at Luton Crown Court in August, he was found guilty of 16 offences, including five counts of indecent assault, six counts of sexual assault, three counts of sexual assault on a child under 13, and two counts of making indecent images of a child.
Today (Thursday), Tatum was sentenced to 10 years in prison, with an additional three years on licence. He was also issued a restraining order and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. The judge described Tatum’s actions as “a campaign of abuse that he had shown no remorse for.”
Detective Constable Matt McCarthy from the PVP team said: “For three decades Tatum groomed and abused the trust of many innocent women and girls, acting in a persistently predatory manner and subjecting them to wholly inappropriate sexual abuse.
“This verdict is a testament to the bravery and resilience of the victims who came forward and shared their experiences.
“Their courage has ensured that a dangerous offender has now been brought to justice. We hope this outcome brings some measure of closure and reassurance to them and to the wider community.
“We work hard to tackle all forms of sexual abuse. Please remember it’s never too late to speak out. Our specialist teams carry out many investigations like this one and have successfully brought many perpetrators to justice, whilst ensuring the victim has the support they need.
“When you are ready, our officers are there to listen and your voice will be heard.”
Lawyer Paul Robson from the Crown Prosecution Service said: “The strong testimonies of the victims were central to our case and to securing Tatum’s conviction.
“Not only did these women come forward to report him, but they also showed great courage by giving their accounts in court, despite everything they had been through. As a result, Tatum will now serve time in prison for his crimes.
“We would like to thank the victims for their support through this process. We also recognise the outstanding work of the police, barristers, and other professionals who ensured justice was served.”