Barry Langford, a film studies professor at Royal Holloway University of London, maintained a secret double life as a sex addict and pedophile while continuing to teach, with his colleagues remaining unaware of his offenses until his conviction. Langford was arrested in October 2023 after planning to sexually assault an underage girl, an act he discussed on a fetish website under the alias 'London Pervert.' Despite facing charges in November 2024, he continued his work at the university.
Colleagues and students were unaware of Langford's hidden activities, and his profile remained on the university's website as the autumn term began. The university stated it was not informed of the criminal proceedings by authorities or by Langford himself.
"The conduct in question is utterly abhorrent and has no place whatsoever within this university," a spokesperson for Royal Holloway said, confirming Langford is no longer employed by the institution.
Langford pleaded guilty to one count each of arranging the commission of a child sex offense, making an indecent image of a child, and possessing extreme pornography. He was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for three years, and received a ten-year sexual harm prevention order.
Detective Constable Nikki Jones, who led the investigation for the Metropolitan Police's Child Abuse and Sex Exploitation Unit, highlighted the clandestine nature of such offenses. "It highlights that it can be anyone and that these individuals walk among us - this is a lecturer at a university," Jones said. "It's like a double life, that dark secret obsession of the extremes that they can't disclose to anyone because it doesn't fit in with the life they present to others."
The court heard that Langford and a female co-defendant, who received a community order, communicated with an undercover police officer posing as someone offering a child for sexual activity. Although Langford expressed concerns about going to prison and ultimately abandoned his plan, clear intent to commit the offense was established. The police were not obligated to inform the university due to Langford not directly working with children.
His academic profile and mentions on university social media have since been removed from the Royal Holloway website. Langford had previously appeared on university platforms congratulating students and welcoming new arrivals.