GEORGE BAKER'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN CREWE AND TRENTHAM: PAEDOPHILE JAILED FOR SEX OFFENCES AND IMAGE OFFENSES

In a disturbing series of events spanning several years, Geoffrey Baker, a man with a long history of sexual offences, has been brought to justice once again. His latest conviction follows a troubling incident at the Nuffield Health leisure centre in Trentham, where staff were left stunned by his inappropriate inquiries about the swimming schedules of local schoolchildren.

On a cold day in February 2016, Baker, aged 53 and formerly residing on Eastwick Crescent in Trentham, visited the family-friendly gym. During his visit, he approached staff members and inquired about the timing of children’s swimming lessons, a question that raised immediate concern among the staff. Recognising him from previous reports, a staff member promptly contacted the police, leading to Baker’s recognition and subsequent investigation.

Prosecutor Julian Taylor explained that Baker had visited the Trentham gym on three occasions between February 7 and 9. During his last visit, he was observed watching children in the pool from the café area, an act that further alarmed those present. The police investigation revealed that Baker had a history of sexual misconduct, including a prior conviction in 2012 for possessing indecent images on his home computer. His criminal record dates back to 1995, when he was initially jailed for eight years for indecent assaults on young boys.

In court, Judge David Fletcher described Baker as “devious and manipulative,” emphasizing the seriousness of his actions. Baker admitted to breaching his Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) by coming into contact with children in Trentham, Staffordshire. As a result, he was sentenced to 12 months in prison. His defense attorney, Hamish Noble, argued that Baker was “overconfident in his ability to control himself,” but the court was unpersuaded.

Earlier incidents involving Baker include a 2012 conviction for defying a court order by continuing to download and possess thousands of indecent images of children. On May 22, 2012, at Chester Crown Court, he was sentenced to two years in prison for these offences. Authorities from Cheshire Police’s Paedophile Unit revealed that officers had been alerted by West Midlands Police about Baker’s online activities. A warrant was executed at a residence in Winsford, where police seized multiple devices, including a mobile internet dongle, CDs, a USB stick, and a laptop.

Further examination of these items uncovered a staggering 3,412 indecent images, with 785 of them available for distribution via file-sharing sites. Baker had previously been convicted in 2010 for similar offences involving indecent images, and he was subject to a court order prohibiting him from accessing such material or having contact with children. Despite these restrictions, he continued his illegal activities, leading to his re-arrest and subsequent imprisonment.

DC Rick Deakin from Cheshire Police’s Paedophile Unit issued a stern warning, stating, “Baker had been convicted of having and making indecent images in 2010 and had been subject to an order which prevented him from doing this again or having any contact with children. He ignored the order and is now paying the consequences. We will continue to work with other forces to ensure that Sexual Prevention Orders are upheld in order to protect children and young people. Anyone who takes part in this deviant and depraved behaviour should think again. We will come knocking at your door.”