JOHN BALDWIN FROM PINCHBECK SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC SEXUAL OFFENCES AGAINST YOUNG GIRLS IN LINCOLN

In a case that has shocked the local community of Pinchbeck and the wider Lincolnshire area, John Baldwin, a 78-year-old man residing on Money Bridge Lane in Pinchbeck, has been sentenced to ten and a half years in prison for a series of heinous sexual offences committed against two young girls. The crimes, which spanned over two decades, have left deep scars on the victims and have been described by the court as both 'appalling and disgraceful.'

According to the proceedings at Lincoln Crown Court on Friday, August 21, Baldwin's first period of abuse targeted a young girl between December 1987 and December 1995. During this time, Baldwin subjected the girl to repeated acts of indecent assault, causing her immense suffering. The second period of abuse involved a different girl, who was victimized between February 2006 and February 2007. These acts of sexual misconduct inflicted lasting trauma on both victims, with the court hearing how Baldwin's actions had devastating long-term effects.

The case came to light in 2018 when one of the victims reached out to her mother via message, revealing that she had been sexually abused when she was just 10 years old. This disclosure prompted further investigation, which led to the second victim coming forward. She recounted that Baldwin had abused her from the age of eight until she was 15, revealing a pattern of brazen and calculated misconduct. Prosecutor Sarah Knight detailed how Baldwin had carried out his offences with apparent lack of remorse, displaying a disturbing level of audacity in his actions.

During the court hearing, the older victim provided a powerful impact statement, describing how the abuse had fundamentally altered her life. She stated, 'I lost my life from the day it started,' and expressed how she had endured the pain for over 33 years. Her fears of passing on the trauma to her own children prevented her from having children altogether, as she worried they might suffer similar abuse and she would be powerless to protect them. The second victim also shared her suffering, revealing that she had contemplated ending her life as a teenager due to the overwhelming memories of her abuse.

John Baldwin pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including eight counts of indecent assault on a young girl and one count of indecency with a child related to the first victim. He also admitted to four counts of sexual assault involving the second girl. The court heard how Baldwin's conduct was not only brazen but also deeply damaging, with Judge John Pini QC condemning his actions as 'immense harm.'

In delivering the sentence, Judge Pini emphasized the gravity of Baldwin's crimes, stating, 'It is clear that you have done immense harm.' He further remarked that Baldwin's lengthy escape from justice had only compounded the severity of his offences. As part of his punishment, Baldwin was ordered to serve a prison term of ten and a half years, be placed on the sex offenders register for life, and be subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order. Baldwin's death in December 2021 was noted, but the court's ruling reflects the enduring impact of his crimes on the victims and the community of Pinchbeck.