A Rotherham man has been jailed for child sex offences after he was caught by an undercover officer posing as an accomplice online. Anthony Barker, 52, of Grove Road, believed he was speaking to someone who would help him arrange sexual abuse of a young girl, when in fact he was communicating with a decoy account run by an undercover officer.
Police said Barker believed the child was nine years old and intentionally arranged to sexually assault her during online communications between 5 and 22 January 2026. The undercover account, run by officers from the Regional Organised Crime Unit, was part of an operation designed to stop child abusers before they could act.
The evidence gathered by the ROCU team was passed to local officers, and Barker was arrested on suspicion of sexual offences on 22 January. Following a search of his home and analysis of his mobile phone, he was charged with arranging to commit an offence of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, possession of an indecent image of a child, and making indecent images of children.
Barker denied the offences, but was found guilty of each charge after a trial at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday 5 June. He was sentenced the same day to seven years in prison and made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Investigations Officer Hannah Goodwin said Barker’s offending was “incredibly disturbing” and praised the collaborative work between police teams that led to his conviction. She said the case showed the importance of stopping online predators before they can put their sick plans into action, and that officers remain committed to protecting young people online.