Man jailed for raping teen

A middle aged man who raped a 14 year old girl after getting her “blind drunk” has been jailed for eight years. Richard Barrett, 46, groomed the girl by plying her with wine and vodka, asking her about her sex life and showing her pornography on his mobile phone. He drove the teenager from her home in Bushey to a film set in Buckinghamshire where he was working as a security guard and told her he was “horny”, St Albans crown court heard yesterday (August 17). Prosecutor Wayne Cleaver said he took her to a caravan on the set where he “took advantage of her sexually”. Afterwards he told her it would be their little secret. The police were called after the girl’s mother read her diary. She had written: “Richard. I hate you. You have ruined my life.” Andrew Campbell, defending, said the offence had been a one-off and had not involved planning. Judge Jonathan Carroll said Barrett had got the girl “blind drunk”. He said she had been vulnerable and there had been sinister signs of grooming with him plying her with alcohol, showing her pornography, telling her about his sex life and asking her about her sex life. Barrett, of Jubilee Walk, Elstree, pleaded guilty to two charges of rape and he must register as a sex offender for life. He admitted the events happened but, until the day his trial was due to start, he had said she consented.