JACK BAXTER OF GORTON AND KENDAL JAILED AGAIN FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES AND ONLINE MISCONDUCT

In a series of troubling incidents spanning several years, Jack Baxter, a former special constable with connections to Gorton and Kendal, has faced multiple convictions related to child sexual offences and breaches of court orders. His latest incarceration underscores ongoing concerns about his conduct and the challenges of monitoring individuals with a history of such offences.

Back in January 2023, Baxter, now aged 27, was sentenced to an additional six months in prison after admitting to unlawfully deleting his internet browsing history. This act was considered a breach of a court-imposed sexual harm prevention order (SHPO), which had been put in place following his previous convictions. The court heard that Baxter was on duty in 2016 when he engaged in sending sexual messages to what he believed was a 13-year-old girl. These messages were part of a broader pattern of misconduct that led to his initial imprisonment.

His first conviction occurred in 2017, when Baxter, then 22 and residing in Gorton, pleaded guilty to two charges: attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act online and misconduct in a public office. The offences took place while he was serving as a special constable, a role he had taken up with aspirations of joining the police force. The court was informed that Baxter had engaged in online sexual activity with a girl he believed to be 13 years old, while he was on duty. As a result, he was sentenced to 15 months in prison and was subjected to a 10-year SHPO, which imposed strict restrictions on his online activities to prevent further misconduct.

Following his release, Baxter's troubling behavior persisted. In 2019, he appeared before the court again, this time for unlawful possession of electronic devices. Authorities found that he was attempting to contact females via social media platforms, raising concerns about his ongoing risk to the public. As part of his sentence, he was ordered to complete 24 months of rehabilitation work supervised by the probation service.

Despite these measures, the latest court proceedings revealed that Baxter had continued to breach the terms of his SHPO. Specifically, in October of the previous year, he unlawfully deleted his web browsing history twice after using Grindr, a social media app primarily used by males. The court was told that these actions were deliberate attempts to conceal his online activity, which was a violation of the restrictions imposed on him.

During the hearing, Anthony Parkinson, representing Baxter, argued that his client’s recent misconduct did not involve direct contact with females, which was the primary concern of the SHPO. Parkinson also highlighted Baxter’s background, noting that he had studied criminology at Lancaster University and had initially joined the police as a special constable with the hope of becoming a full officer. However, the judge, Nicholas Barker, was unsympathetic to these arguments, describing Baxter’s actions as a “deliberate breach” of court orders. The judge concurred with the probation service’s assessment that there was little hope for immediate rehabilitation, and he confirmed that Baxter’s SHPO would remain in effect for the foreseeable future.

These incidents have cast a long shadow over Baxter’s career and reputation. His actions have not only resulted in his repeated imprisonment but have also raised serious questions about the effectiveness of supervision and monitoring of individuals with a history of sexual offences. The case continues to serve as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and strict enforcement of court orders designed to protect vulnerable members of society from predatory behavior.