A 'white witch' who abused young girls, the youngest of whom was just four, over a period covering three decades, has been jailed for 22 years. Redvers 'Barney' Barnard claimed that he was a Pagan who practiced healing 'white magic'. But a Manchester Crown Court trial heard he was a 'terrifying' figure who manipulated and abused young girls in Greater Manchester over a twenty-year period. Redvers Barnard, pictured, has been jailed for 22 years for abusing young girls over a three decades . The court heard that Redvers began abusing one underage victim, before raping her. Then he took indecent photographs of the youngster. She was subjected to such 'grooming and coercion' the sex continued into her adulthood. By that time, Barnard was also abusing two other young girls. The court heard that Barnard raped one of these girls and forced the second one into lewd acts. Barnard also abused three other young girls at addresses in Salford, bringing the total number of victims to six. Barnard, 56, formerly of Eccles, was branded a dangerous offender by the judge shortly after being found guilty of abusing his six victims, who were as young as four when the abuse began. He had denied all the offences, which stretched back to the early eighties, claiming the victims were all lying. Manchester Crown Court, pictured,  heard that Barnard must serve at least two-thirds of his 22-year sentence . Barnard, who was last living in Middlesbrough, Teesside, has now been jailed for 22 years, with an extended licence period for the public protection. This means that unlike ordinary prisoners, he must serve at least two-thirds of his sentence, rather than half, and can only be released when the parole board think it is safe to do so. Even after his release, he will remain at risk of being recalled to prison until 2042. In total, Barnard was found guilty of three rapes and sixteen indecent assaults. Sending him down, Judge Michael Henshell said Barnard, formerly known as Peter Barnard, had treated his victims as his 'sexual property' and bullied them into keeping quiet. 'I'm abundantly satisfied you are a dangerous individual so far as children and sexual offending is concerned. 'Throughout your life you have demonstrated you are sexually attracted to young girls. You are also highly manipulative and have used coercion. You have corrupted children and by turns terrified them', the judge added. Thanking the jury, the judge added: 'At a time when matters of this nature are on the news everyday...you have seen at first-hand the ordeal faced by people recounting events from their childhood.'
Redvers Barnard claimed that he was a 'white witch' to heal people .
Manchester Crown Court heard he abused girls over three decades .
One underage girl was abused by Barnard, who then took indecent photos .
He was found guilty of 15 sex offences against six victims .
The youngest victim was aged just four when the abuse began .
He was found guilty of three rapes and sixteen indecent assaults .
Barnard had pleaded not guilty and claimed that all his victims were lying .
A 'white witch' who abused young girls, the youngest of whom was just four, over a period covering three decades, has been jailed for 22 years. Redvers 'Barney' Barnard claimed that he was a Pagan who practiced healing 'white magic'. But a Manchester Crown Court trial heard he was a 'terrifying' figure who manipulated and abused young girls in Greater Manchester over a twenty-year period. Redvers Barnard, pictured, has been jailed for 22 years for abusing young girls over a three decades . The court heard that Redvers began abusing one underage victim, before raping her. Then he took indecent photographs of the youngster. She was subjected to such 'grooming and coercion' the sex continued into her adulthood. By that time, Barnard was also abusing two other young girls. The court heard that Barnard raped one of these girls and forced the second one into lewd acts. Barnard also abused three other young girls at addresses in Salford, bringing the total number of victims to six. Barnard, 56, formerly of Eccles, was branded a dangerous offender by the judge shortly after being found guilty of abusing his six victims, who were as young as four when the abuse began. He had denied all the offences, which stretched back to the early eighties, claiming the victims were all lying. Manchester Crown Court, pictured, heard that Barnard must serve at least two-thirds of his 22-year sentence . Barnard, who was last living in Middlesbrough, Teesside, has now been jailed for 22 years, with an extended licence period for the public protection. This means that unlike ordinary prisoners, he must serve at least two-thirds of his sentence, rather than half, and can only be released when the parole board think it is safe to do so. Even after his release, he will remain at risk of being recalled to prison until 2042. In total, Barnard was found guilty of three rapes and sixteen indecent assaults. Sending him down, Judge Michael Henshell said Barnard, formerly known as Peter Barnard, had treated his victims as his 'sexual property' and bullied them into keeping quiet. 'I'm abundantly satisfied you are a dangerous individual so far as children and sexual offending is concerned. 'Throughout your life you have demonstrated you are sexually attracted to young girls. You are also highly manipulative and have used coercion. You have corrupted children and by turns terrified them', the judge added. Thanking the jury, the judge added: 'At a time when matters of this nature are on the news everyday...you have seen at first-hand the ordeal faced by people recounting events from their childhood.'
A 'white witch' who abused young girls, the youngest of whom was just four, over a period years. Redvers 'Barney' Barnard claimed that he But a Manchester Crown Court trial heard he was a girls over a three decades . The court heard that being found guilty of abusing his six victims, who were as young as four when the abuse began. were all lying. Manchester Crown Court, pictured, Barnard was found guilty of three rapes and sixteen indecent assaults. Sending him down, known as Peter Barnard, had treated his victims