Sussex rapist who sexually assaulted four-year-old in Brighton jailed

Matthew Barca, 31, from Telscombe Cliffs, has been jailed for assaulting the four-year-old and the rape of a five-year-old when he was a teenager.

He also made indecent images of children. 

After the most recent incident, when he sexually assaulted a four-year-old in Brighton in 2021 the victim told her mother who called the police.

The four-year-old was interviewed by specially trained police officers.

The victim, whose identity is protected, hereafter referred to as victim A, told police how the defendant sexually assaulted her and he was subsequently arrested.

Saliva matching his was found on his victim A’s underwear, which Barca initially said was because he was helping her use the toilet. He later pleaded guilty to four charges of sexual assault of a child under 13.

Following victim A’s police interview, officers looked on their system and found the defendant had been named in relation to a previous case.

Matthew Barca has been jailed for nine years and eight months (Image: Sussex Police)

Between 2006 and 2007, when Barca was between the ages of 12 and 14, he subjected another child victim, hereafter referred to as victim B, to sexual abuse.

He raped the five year old at least twice and on other occasions touched her vagina and made her masturbate him.

Barca threatened victim B, telling her not to tell anyone about his abuse, saying she would be arrested or no one would believe her.

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In her personal statement, victim B, who is now 22 years old, told of the lasting impact of Barca’s campaign of sexual abuse.

She said: “When the abuse was happening my family didn’t notice, I felt so scared and alone.

“I was so young trying to deal with such complex feelings.

“It has affected my relationships with everyone.

“I have PTSD as a direct association with these incidents.

“I don’t have much memory and I have no happy memories of my childhood.

“I have such terrible anxiety and there was a time I couldn’t even go to the shops on my own.

“I had depression from a really young age which resulted in me being bullied in school.

“I am angry and disgusted.”

Barca wore a grey quarter-zip jumper and looked straight ahead as Sarah Lindop, prosecuting, read his victim’s statement to Lewes Crown Court on Wednesday, January 3.

She added: “It is abundantly clear that the defendant's actions have had a severe and long-lasting effect on the victim.”

Barca, of South Coast Road, was also charged with making indecent photographs of children.

While Barca initially pleaded not guilty to the charges relating to victim A, he later pleaded guilty to all charges against him.

In mitigation, James Partridge, defending, said: “These are grave crimes which arise out of the defendant’s own conduct which he admits responsibility for.

“He accepts the damage that this has done.”

His Honour Judge Mark Van Der Zwart, sentencing, said: “I am satisfied that the mental and physical trauma on her [victim B] has profoundly affected her childhood and her ability to live and enjoy a normal adult life.

“I have no doubt that impact will continue.

“You do accept responsibility for these offences and acknowledge the harm you have caused but I believe you do not understand the full impact.”

The judge also commented on the psychological impact on victim A.

He asked Barca, who spoke only to confirm his name, to stand, as he sentenced him to jail.

“You present a high risk of sexual harm to children,” Judge Van Der Zwart said.

He sentenced Barca to a total of nine years and eight months in prison, made up of four years and four months for the historic offences and five years and four months for the more recent ones, with a further four years and four months on licence. 

Barca was also sentenced to a total of 11 months in prison for making incident images of children, which are to be served concurrently.