Nathaniel Barber: Man sentenced after ‘classic’ grooming tactics exposed

A 19-old-year-old man will be offered strict psychological guidance and much-needed drug and sexual rehabilitation after being sentenced for sex charges against two underage girls.

Nathaniel Barber used Facebook and Snapchat to contact his victims

An 18-year-old man who engaged in “classic” grooming tactics by befriending two young girls on social media – one of whom he sexually touched – will be ordered to undergo three-years of supervised rehabilitation.

Werris Creek’s Nathan Barber, now 19, was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 14 months at Kempsey Local Court on Friday, but will be eligible for release into the Blacktown community under the care of his brother due to time already served in jail.

The Local Court heard quite unique, but serious details relating to two cases involving two girls, 12 and 13, with whom he befriended and spoke to on social media applications Snapchat and Facebook.

Barber used Snapchat and Facebook to connect with the girls

Court documents stated the man started speaking to the 13-year-old girl on Snapchat in November, where the pair exchanged a series of messages before he lured her to a Mid-North Coast residence touching her on the thigh and vagina after she refused to have sex with him.

On the night they met, the man had already been engaging in a separate conversation with another girl, 12 – who told him she was 13 – on Facebook Messenger.

Court documents stated a conversation was struck up when he befriended the girl and told her she was “kinda [sic] hot for a 13-year-old” and that she should meet up with him.

“My parents wouldn’t let me cuz [sic] I still have to listen to them,“ she said.

“Fine I will kidnap u [sic] then … I will kidnap u [sic] so I can have cuddles at night.’

When the girl’s father became aware of the exchange of messages, he intervened, but continued the conversation without his knowing.

The father, still acting as the girl, and Barber arranged to meet and police were contacted.

On their arrival, Barber produced a knife, but disarmed himself at the request of police.

He was interviewed by police, arrested and charged.

On sentencing, Magistrate David O’Neill said the case was difficult to consider given the matters were often reserved for judgment at a District Court level or above.

“There is not much available in relation to these charges in terms of sentencing comparison [in Local Court jurisdiction].” he said.

“They are serious matters.”

Crown Prosecutor Rachael Endacott said there was a level of ‘sophistication’ to the grooming process of the girl he befriended on Facebook.

“In relation to that offending, it’s very classic grooming techniques,” she said.

“From the outset he has asked her age to know how old she was and commence the grooming process.

“It worked its way from innocent chit chat to a more sexual nature.

“It started with general chit chat, a general comment about being kinda hot, then ‘x’s in messages, kisses.”

“There are two references to ‘kidnap’ … it’s an interesting choice of words using the word kidnap. That may just be a term of phrase, but it’s the Crown’s submission that there is some intention in that word ‘kidnap’.”

Kempsey Local Court House

Central to Magistrate O’Neill’s decision in imposing his release from jail and onto a community correction’s order, was a psychological report that recommended Barber undergo three years of rehabilitation.

Consideration of his age, his clean record, and time already served in a jail, were also factors that motivated the judgement.

“There is a serious need for rehabilitation,” Magistrate O’Neill said.

“What that means Mr Barber is that you have to address these matters with the help of a psychologist.

“The order I’m going to put you on will be supervised and when you are supervised you have to obey all the reasonable directions of the supervisor.”

The conditions include that he be supervised at Blacktown, where his brother lives, and that he is not to be in the company of any child under 16 years without being in the company of a responsible adult.

He was also placed on the sex offender’s register.