May 18, 2015 4.04 pm This story is over 105 months old

Lincoln paedophile jailed for 22 years after raping and selling girl, 12

Paedophile sentenced: A paedophile who repeatedly raped a 12 year old girl and went on to sell her to other men for sex has been jailed for 22 years.

A Lincoln paedophile who repeatedly raped a 12-year-old girl and went on to sell her to other men for sex has been jailed for 22 years.

Karl Barker, 69, groomed the youngster before moving on to sexual assault and then rape her on “many occasions”.

Barker later took her to dogging sites around Lincoln, where he sold her to strangers for sex for up to £50 a time.

Judge Michael Heath passing sentence at Lincoln Crown Court told Barker: “I struggle to find words which adequately reflect the magnitude of your loathsome depravity.

“It almost beggars belief that you could do what you did. You groomed her and sordidly abused her and allowed other men, for money, to sordidly abuse her.

“It is plain to see the effect that has had on that poor girl who is now a young woman.”

Gordon Aspden, prosecuting, said: “He abused her to such an extent that she was quite willing to do virtually anything he wanted. She was totally corrupted.”

He said the victim was “a normal, happy child” until she came under the influence of Barker.

“She found he was affectionate and always very generous. He would provide her with alcohol, cigarettes and money. It was a gradual process of grooming her for a sexual relationship.”

The girl moved away but later returned to Lincoln and was again contacted by Barker who continued to abuse her.

Mr Aspden said: “He was taking her to dogging sites. She would have sex with strangers for money and there was associated voyeurism.”

The incidents came to light in December 2012 when the victim made a complaint to police.

The court was told that during a period when the victim left Lincoln Barker paid two other girls, aged 15 and 16, for sex after plying them with vodka at his flat.

Barker, of Lamb Gardens, Lincoln, admitted rape of a child under the age of 13 between February 2005 and February 2007.

He also admitted sexual activity with a child between February 2007 and February 2012, together with arranging prostitution between February 2007 and August 2012 plus two further charges of inciting child prostitution in January 2009.

John McNally, defending, said that Barker felt deep shame for the way he had behaved.

Lincolnshire Police’s Superintendent Rick Hatton said: “The investigation is a credit to the Child Protection Officers involved. The sentence passed means a dangerous paedophile is off the streets.”