ALAN BAKER'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN LEAMINGTON AND WARWICK: CHURCH VERGER'S DARK SECRET REVEALED
| Red Rose Database
Leamington Child Sexual Abuser
In April 2017, the community of Warwick was rocked by the sentencing of Alan Baker, a retired teacher and assistant verger at the historic St Mary’s Collegiate Church, following a series of disturbing sexual offenses spanning over two decades. Baker, aged 81 at the time, was convicted of multiple counts of indecent assault and breach of court orders, revealing a troubling pattern of predatory behavior that had remained hidden for years.
It all came to light after Baker’s previous conviction in April 2016, when he was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, for sexually assaulting a teenage boy. Despite this, Baker continued to breach the strict conditions of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which prohibited him from giving unsupervised music lessons to children without parental consent. Within days of his sentencing, he was found giving lessons to children without supervision, including a ten-year-old boy, in violation of the court’s orders.
The police swiftly intervened, and Baker was charged with breaching the order. During the subsequent court proceedings, it was revealed that Baker had been actively involved in teaching music to children, even after his conviction, which was a clear violation of the restrictions placed upon him. The court heard that Baker’s continued activities not only breached the court order but also his bail conditions, which forbade him from unsupervised contact with minors.
In a detailed and serious hearing, Judge Andrew Lockhart QC emphasized the gravity of Baker’s actions. He pointed out that Baker, who had spent his life working as a teacher and church official in Leamington, had exploited his position of trust to groom vulnerable young individuals. The court was told that Baker befriended a 14 or 15-year-old boy, offering private music lessons that served as a cover for his sexual misconduct. The victim, who came forward after seeing reports of Baker’s previous court cases, described feeling a sense of guilt and responsibility, highlighting the profound psychological impact of Baker’s grooming and abuse.
During the sentencing, the judge noted that Baker’s motives appeared to be driven by a desire for sexual gratification, disguised behind his respectable facade as a church verger and teacher. The court detailed that Baker had engaged in at least three instances of sexual assault on the young victim, with incidents involving fondling over and under clothing, and more serious acts of sexual abuse. The judge condemned Baker’s breach of trust, emphasizing the significant harm inflicted on the victim, who was only 14 or 15 at the time.
In addition to his prison sentence, Baker was ordered to register as a sex offender for life, reflecting the severity of his crimes. The court also highlighted that Baker’s actions had been a gross breach of the community’s trust, and that he had managed to live for over 25 years under the guise of an upstanding member of society, despite his criminal conduct.
Earlier in November 2016, Baker’s continued involvement in teaching activities was scrutinized when police discovered he was still giving piano lessons to children, in direct violation of his court-imposed restrictions. Despite being under supervision, Baker had visited the homes of children, including a ten-year-old boy, without proper authorization. This led to additional charges and an eight-month suspended prison sentence, along with a curfew and unpaid work obligations.
Throughout these proceedings, Baker’s defense acknowledged his remorse and the inevitability of his imprisonment, citing his age and health as mitigating factors. However, the court’s focus remained on the serious breach of trust and the lasting harm caused to his victims. The case underscores the importance of vigilance and strict enforcement of court orders designed to protect minors from sexual exploitation, especially when the offender holds a position of authority within the community.
Detective Sergeant Cawail Wong of Warwickshire Police commented on the case, praising the bravery of the victims who came forward and emphasizing that no child under 18 can legally consent to abuse. The police reaffirmed their commitment to investigating such cases thoroughly and bringing offenders like Baker to justice, ensuring that the community remains safe from predators hiding behind respectable facades.
It all came to light after Baker’s previous conviction in April 2016, when he was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, for sexually assaulting a teenage boy. Despite this, Baker continued to breach the strict conditions of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which prohibited him from giving unsupervised music lessons to children without parental consent. Within days of his sentencing, he was found giving lessons to children without supervision, including a ten-year-old boy, in violation of the court’s orders.
The police swiftly intervened, and Baker was charged with breaching the order. During the subsequent court proceedings, it was revealed that Baker had been actively involved in teaching music to children, even after his conviction, which was a clear violation of the restrictions placed upon him. The court heard that Baker’s continued activities not only breached the court order but also his bail conditions, which forbade him from unsupervised contact with minors.
In a detailed and serious hearing, Judge Andrew Lockhart QC emphasized the gravity of Baker’s actions. He pointed out that Baker, who had spent his life working as a teacher and church official in Leamington, had exploited his position of trust to groom vulnerable young individuals. The court was told that Baker befriended a 14 or 15-year-old boy, offering private music lessons that served as a cover for his sexual misconduct. The victim, who came forward after seeing reports of Baker’s previous court cases, described feeling a sense of guilt and responsibility, highlighting the profound psychological impact of Baker’s grooming and abuse.
During the sentencing, the judge noted that Baker’s motives appeared to be driven by a desire for sexual gratification, disguised behind his respectable facade as a church verger and teacher. The court detailed that Baker had engaged in at least three instances of sexual assault on the young victim, with incidents involving fondling over and under clothing, and more serious acts of sexual abuse. The judge condemned Baker’s breach of trust, emphasizing the significant harm inflicted on the victim, who was only 14 or 15 at the time.
In addition to his prison sentence, Baker was ordered to register as a sex offender for life, reflecting the severity of his crimes. The court also highlighted that Baker’s actions had been a gross breach of the community’s trust, and that he had managed to live for over 25 years under the guise of an upstanding member of society, despite his criminal conduct.
Earlier in November 2016, Baker’s continued involvement in teaching activities was scrutinized when police discovered he was still giving piano lessons to children, in direct violation of his court-imposed restrictions. Despite being under supervision, Baker had visited the homes of children, including a ten-year-old boy, without proper authorization. This led to additional charges and an eight-month suspended prison sentence, along with a curfew and unpaid work obligations.
Throughout these proceedings, Baker’s defense acknowledged his remorse and the inevitability of his imprisonment, citing his age and health as mitigating factors. However, the court’s focus remained on the serious breach of trust and the lasting harm caused to his victims. The case underscores the importance of vigilance and strict enforcement of court orders designed to protect minors from sexual exploitation, especially when the offender holds a position of authority within the community.
Detective Sergeant Cawail Wong of Warwickshire Police commented on the case, praising the bravery of the victims who came forward and emphasizing that no child under 18 can legally consent to abuse. The police reaffirmed their commitment to investigating such cases thoroughly and bringing offenders like Baker to justice, ensuring that the community remains safe from predators hiding behind respectable facades.