A married teacherwho had sex with a 15-year-old boy has been sentenced to more than sixyears in prison.
KandiceBarber was found guilty of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexualactivity in January following a retrial and was sentenced for her “beyonddespicable” crimes on Friday, March 5.
Duringthe trial, Amersham Law Courts heard the 35-year-old married mom had told theboy she would “bring him down with her” if the relationship wasdiscovered.
Whileshe was working as a school cover supervisor, she had sent topless pictures ofherself to the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, as well as a“live video” of her masturbating.
OnFriday, March 5, Barber, of Wendover, Buckinghamshire, appeared at AylesburyCrown Court to be sentenced.
Prosecutor David Povallsummarised a statement from the victim, who said he faced stress and anxiety asa result of the incidents and going through two trials.
Hecontinued: “He was at school and it was through his presence at schoolthat he came into contact with this defendant, who was working there in aposition of trust.
“Hefeels that his GCSE results were not as good as they should have been, in partas a result of the impact of these incidents on him.
“Asa result of his poorer-than-expected GCSE results he had to leave the goodschool he was attending and go to a sixth-form college where none of hisfriends were.
“Insummary, he says that the defendant … who was supposed to help students makethe right decisions instead helped him to make all the wrong decisions.”
RecorderBal Dhaliwal handed Barber a sentence of six years and two months for thecharge of causing a child to engage in sexual activity.
Shedescribed how Barber added herself to the victim’s Snapchat account inSeptember 2018, exchanging messages with the boy which became sexual within aweek.
Shesaid: “You also sent images, including a topless image of yourself, and alive video in which you were masturbating. All of these acts are tantamount toyou grooming him and pulling him in, and with significant planning on yourpart.
Duringone incident, the court heard Barber asked the boy to meet her, going to aprivate field and having sex with him.
The judge continued:“There is no doubt in my mind that you acted in gross breach of trust. Youtook advantage of a child in your care and groomed him for your own sexualgratification.”
Barberlater told the boy to delete all messages and block her on Snapchat to stopevidence being found.
“Youremained determined to silence him in whatever way you could,” JudgeDhaliwal said.
Barberlater told the teenager that she was pregnant and was unsure whether the babywas his or her husband’s. “This was yet another attempt by you tomanipulate and control him,” the judge continued.
“Youalready had authority over him by the nature of your position, and to usethreats to bring him down so he would comply with your demands to remain quiet,which is what I find that you did, is in my view beyond despicable.”
Barberwas also handed a 16-month prison sentence for causing a child under 16 towatch sexual activity by a person in breach of trust and a further 10-monthsentence for sexual communication, both to be served concurrently with her mainsentence.
Shewill be required to notify police of her personal details and address for therest of her life, as well as being barred from working with children andvulnerable adults, and being subject to a lifelong sexual harm prevention
order.