Wig-wearing paedophile with 14 names says he’d have raped girl if he hadn’t been interrupted
‘John Baker’ received an extended prison sentence after being branded a dangerous offender
A dangerous paedophile has admitted he would have raped an eight-year-old girl if he had not been interrupted by a school caretaker.
John Baker, 41, who has 13 aliases and wore a wig for his appearance at Hull Crown Court on Thursday, was jailed for five years in 1998 for indecently assaulting the girl after taking her off a school premises in Bradford.
The self-employed removals firm boss was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order indefinitely, which included a prohibition on him using the internet at home. But after Baker’s lodger reported him for accessing the internet at home, he admitted doing so in the early hours while his partner was asleep.
Police found 363 images at category A – the most serious – 235 at category B, and 342 at category C. There were also 16 prohibited images, although no detail was given of what these were.
Baker told the probation service one image was of an eight-month old baby, but it was not clear if this related to earlier offences.
Claire Holmes, prosecuting, said Baker had used a website which “showed images from all over the world of people of all ages having sex. He saw adults but also saw a number of child sites where he saw young children performing sexual acts.”
Baker admitted “getting excited” but denied getting sexual gratification from the images. He continued viewing them because they continued to excite him, he said.
Baker claimed he had been doing this for three to four months, but Miss Holmes said evidence suggested it had gone on longer. Baker also admitted using computer programmes to conceal his internet usage.
Other names used by Baker included “Sam Turner”. On January 14 last year, Baker, accompanied by his partner, gave his name as Sam Turner when visiting another sex offender in Hull Prison.
He also failed to give details of his other names when attending Osborne Street police station in November 17, 2017, to complete the sex offender registration form.
Baker, of De Grey Street, west Hull, admitted three offences of making indecent photographs, possessing a prohibited image, breaching a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO), and failing to comply with his notification requirements as a sex offender. He said he kept changing his name to protect his removals business, which was launched eight years ago.
His 62 previous offences included the indecent assault, possessing indecent photographs and pseudo photographs, and failing to comply with notification requirements.
Describing the circumstances of the assault on the eight-year-old, Judge Mark Bury said: “You had entered a school premises and you led her away. You were to admit to the probation service that had you not been interrupted by the caretaker you would have raped her.”
Referring to a pre-sentence report, the judge told Baker’s barrister, Stephen Robinson: “He’s regarded as a high risk of serious harm to children and a very high risk of further offending.”
Mr Robinson said: “One can understand that conclusion; the defendant even does to a certain extent. He lost both parents within a short space of time. His father died in prison; his mother died of cancer after an illness of six to nine months.
“Following that he was depressed, started to drink then turned to this sort of offending. The defendant bitterly regrets that, he’s sorry for it. He knows he’s let down those around him. He knows he’ll be punished for this and deserves to be.”
Jailing Baker for five years, the judge told him: “I have no doubt at all that you are indeed a dangerous offender and that an extended sentence is warranted.” Baker looked shocked at the length of his sentence and silently mouthed “What?” He said “Love you” to a woman in the public gallery, who began sobbing.
He must serve at least two-thirds of the five years before he can apply for parole, and will be on licence for at least three years on release.
