Predatory, calculating and dangerous - paedophile Barry Radford kitted his home out as a teenage boy's paradise to entice his young victims while gaining the trust their parents
And cops fear there could be more victims out there as it was revealed the 53-year-old had been wanted by police in Australia for alleged sex crimes 20 years ago.
Radford is beginning 12 years behind bars after pleading guilty to a series of charges, including inciting a child into sexual activity, grooming and possessing indecent images.
With a pool table, hover board and games consoles, Radford went all out to make his home attractive to lads of the age he was attracted to.
He then befriended teen boys and invited them back to abuse them, often after taking them on days out to trampoline parks and other attractions in his campervan.
So likeable and plausible was Radford's demeanour, he was even able to "groom" his young victims' parents, who trusted him with their sons, said the detective that brought him to justice.
And it has now emerged that Radford had been wanted by police in Australia for sexual offences said to have been committed in 1999.
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The North East-born persistent abuser was believed to have moved back to the UK the following year.
The Australian authorities issued arrest warrants and in 2007 Interpol contacted Northumbria Police after the force had stopped him in the North East for a driving offence.
But this did not lead to him being returned to Australia for the alleged 1999 offences, and in 2009 the authorities there revoked the warrants, leaving him free to prey on Northumberland teens.
Today, an officer told of her fears that more victims could be out there.
And the detective that brought him to justice has revealed the well-planned methods he used to groom youngsters and fool their parents.
Supt Lyn Peart, of Northumbria Police, said: "He's dangerous and predatory sex offender and he's preyed on teenage boys.
"One of the messages we want to get out is everything that's been reported has been investigated, but we are reliant on the public coming forward.
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"What we are asking the public to do is if they believe they have been a victim of a sexual crime to come forward to the police.
"We need to try and understand if there are any more victims out there which is why we are asking victims to come forward."
And Det Cons Gary Cousins, who investigated Radford's crimes, added: "It was very calculated. I think he knew exactly what he was doing.
"He has put a lot of time and effort into gaining the confidence of the boys and in turn their families, so much so that the majority of parents felt he was a safe person to allow their children to be with.
"On the face of it he was a likeable, hard-working man. But obviously that's a facade and I can see why people have trusted him.
"He's friendly, he's polite, he just appears to be a nice friendly bloke. He even thanked me when I charged him."
Radford is known to have left Australia to travel back to the UK in 2000.
New South Wales Police has confirmed that a warrant was issued for his arrest in 2002 in relation to sex crimes committed in 1999.
However, where he had gone after touching down on British soil remained a mystery and the Aussie force was unable to locate him.
ChronicleLive understands that Northumbria Police was contacted by Australian cops in 2007 and asked to check an address in its force area where Radford was believed to be living.
Officers located him, but were not asked to arrest him or take any further action.
It is understood in 2007 Australian prosecutors made the decision not to charge Radford, and the arrest warrant was revoked in 2009.
Northumbria Police however started a new investigation into Radford in 2018.
Det Cons Cousins explained. "It came to police attention on July 18 last year when police were called to an address for an unrelated incident.
"While offices were there a mobile phone was handed to the police and concerns were then raised and the police investigation into Barry Radford commenced.
"We spoke to a number of boys and other boys were then identified."
The investigation was handed to Northumbria Police's complex case unit, whose specialist officers set about supporting the young victims and gathering evidence against Radford.
A decision was then made to arrest the suspect. He was questioned before being released on bail, but so serious were the concerns about his behaviour police applied to the courts to obtain a 'sexual risk order'.
Officers searched his home, workplace and the campervan he owned where a number of devices were seized.
"It became quite apparent early on that this was a man who put a lot of time and planning into identifying teenage boys and that was supported further from the evidence we found on mobile telephones, all of which were hidden in his home address and place of work," said Det Cons Cousins.
"He would give them free access to his flat and inside his flat he had specifically bought items that would be attractive to adolescent boys. There was a pool table, games console and hover board.
"This was face-to-face grooming."
Newcastle Crown Court heard how Radford took photos of one of his victims when he was passed out through drink and drugs, and on another occasion paid him to be allowed to take other indecent pictures of him.
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That boy said: "Barry is a very dangerous man, he knows exactly what he was doing."
In sentencing Judge Amanda Rippon told Radford his offending had a "profound effect" on the lives of his victims and their mental health.
Richard Herrmann, mitigating, said his client was remorseful and pleaded guilty at an early opportunity.
A spokesman for New South Wales Police said: "In 2000, it was established that the man had left Australia and travelled to the UK.
"In 2002, NSW Police issued two warrants for his arrest; however, a decision was made to revoke them in 2009.
"Given the man remains before the courts in the UK, it would be inappropriate to comment on further action by NSW Police."
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