Serial sex offender who raped two escorts fails to have 18-year sentence reduced

Fiona Magennis

A serial sex offender who “lured” an escort to his home before violently raping her while under investigation for a previous attack in which he violated his victim in “every conceivable way” - and who later attempted to rape a third woman - has failed to have his 18-year prison sentence reduced on appeal.

Aaron Barwell (30) of Coldcut Park, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, pleaded guilty to one count of oral rape, one of rape and one of attempted rape on dates between January and August 2021. The three victims were all working as escorts at the time and each had a profile on a website listing their services.

He arranged for each victim to come to his residence on separate occasions, where he carried out the offences.

Cable ties

During a search of Barwell’s apartment following the first attack, gardaí found a knife and cable ties in his pockets when the defendant opened the door. A small silver hammer was also seized.

Barwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with the final two years suspended by Mr Justice Tony Hunt at the Central Criminal Court in July 2024.

The judge originally set a total headline sentence of 36 years to reflect the gravity of the offending. He said the court was conscious that 36 years is a significant period and after considering the principles of totality and proportionality, he reduced the headline sentence to 27 years.

Having considered mitigation, the judge gave a further discount of seven years and suspended the final two years of the sentence.

Dismissing Barwell’s appeal at the Court of Appeal on Monday, Mr Justice John Edwards said the court had “no hesitation” in rejecting the suggestion that the sentencing judge had erred in either the band in which the offending was placed or the headline sentences set.

He said on “no view of it” could these crimes fall into the ordinary category of offending.

'Significant degradation'

The first victim was falsely imprisoned and “terrorised” by Barwell, the judge noted. There was “significant degradation” as she was forced to have sex without a condom when she had clearly indicated that she did not want this, he said.

Mr Justice Edwards said the second victim was “raped every conceivable way” - orally, vaginally and anally - there was violence involved in the production of a screwdriver and the woman was “in fear for her life” and “hugely traumatised” by the whole experience.

In relation to the third victim, the judge said that whilst this was an attempted rape there were “significant aggravating factors” and “considerable violence used”.

He said a screwdriver was produced and the woman was attacked. Only the resistance she put up “saved her from being fully raped”, the judge added.

He said the judge in the case was “assiduous” in ensuring that the ultimate sentence imposed was proportionate and would not be “crushing”.

The ultimate term imposed was “undoubtedly a long sentence” but was “deservedly” so, the judge added.

He said the judge also made a substantial adjustment to the headline figure to reflect the mitigating factors in the case. “We are satisfied sufficient generosity was shown in that regard,” he said.

Barwell’s personal circumstances were also properly taken into account and were reflected in the reduction of seven years to a baseline sentence of 20 years, Mr Justice Edwards said adding the judge then went further and suspended two years to incentivise rehabilitation. “We consider this was generous,” he added.

Appeal

At the appeal hearing today, Dara Foynes SC, for Barwell, argued that the headline sentence set by the judge was too high and that this “tied the court’s hands” when it came to looking at how to apply and balance mitigation against the severity of the sentence.

She said the judge failed to express how he had calculated the value of the guilty plea and did not reference the remorse expressed by Mr Barwell, both in the dock and in letters to the victims.

The ultimate sentence handed down was “crushing”, counsel contended, and the cumulative term “exceeded the culpability of Mr Barlow taking into account the probation report, the forensic psychologist’s report and his other personal circumstances”.

She said it was accepted by gardaí that Barwell was “in the throes of cocaine addiction” at the time. She said the offending happened “in the midst of the Covid lockdown” and Barwell also seemed to be in the grip of an addiction to pornography at the time.

“I say the sentence was excessive,” she said.

In response, Shane Costelloe SC, for the State, said there was “absolutely no error in principle” on the part of the sentencing judge.

'Pre-meditated attack

He said this had been a pre-meditated attack; Barwell had given a false name, had “lured” the women to his address and had used violence or the threat of violence in each case. Mr Costelloe said the attacks had had a “huge effect” on the victims’ lives.

“In so far as credit is being given for a plea, he was given a discount of seven years in circumstances where the plea was given the day after a jury was empanelled and the three complainants made it clear they were ready and willing to give evidence,” said counsel, adding a further two years had been suspended “on top of that”.

The sentencing court heard that on January 29th, 2021, a two-hour appointment was agreed between Barwell and the first complainant. When they went to his residence, Barwell directed her to the bedroom before holding a rope and a hammer.

He pushed the woman onto the bed and demanded she perform oral sex on him.

She later told gardaí Barwell “tapped on the soles of her feet” using the hammer. He then pushed her face into the bed, tied her hands and masturbated over her.

Gardaí subsequently carried out a search of Barwell's residence and a knife and cable ties were found in his pockets when he opened the door. Several items were seized during the search, including a small silver hammer.

He was not arrested following this search as the garda investigation was ongoing.

Second victim

Barwell arranged for the second victim to come to his residence on August 13th, 2021. seemed to be under the influence of drugs and asked the woman the cost of her services.
He took out a screwdriver and held it to her neck, saying: “Don't mess with me, motherfucker” and threatening to kill her. Barwell then dragged the terrified woman to his bedroom and shouted at her to remove her clothes. He pushed her face down onto the bed, then forced her to perform oral sex before raping her vaginally and anally.

The court heard he was holding the screwdriver throughout. Barwell apologised afterwards and described what happened as “role-playing”.

The court heard that gardaí did not become aware of this second incident until after the third victim contacted them.

Two weeks later, on August 27th, an arrangement was made between the third victim and Barwell. He brought her to the bedroom, shouted at her to remove her clothes and held a screwdriver as he told her they were going to have sex or he would kill her.

The woman screamed and banged on the window for help. Barwell threatened to kill the victim if she didn't shut up, then threw her onto the bed. He still had the screwdriver in his hand. She fought back, kicking and slapping and one kick connected to his nose, causing it to bleed.

Barwell called her a “crazy bitch” and told her to get out. The woman ran out of the apartment and a passersby contacted the gardaí.

The Garda Armed Response Unit attended the scene and Barwell was arrested and taken to a nearby garda station.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help.