HECKINGTON MAN MICHAEL BAXTER CAUGHT IN LINCOLN PERVERTS' PLOT

In August 2020, a disturbing case emerged involving a middle-aged factory worker from Heckington named Michael Baxter, whose secret life of predatory behavior was exposed through an undercover operation. Baxter, who was employed at a local factory, had been engaging in illicit online communications with what he believed were underage girls, a pattern that spanned several weeks before he was ultimately confronted and apprehended.

According to the prosecution presented at Lincoln Crown Court, Baxter’s online activities came to light when a group of paedophile hunters known as Our Team identified and tracked his interactions. The group had set up decoy accounts to lure potential offenders, and Baxter’s actions led to his downfall when he messaged what appeared to be a young girl named Shelby, claiming to be 12 years old. His response to her initial message was disturbingly casual, stating, “That’s ok if you’re ok,” which indicated a troubling disregard for the age of the person he believed he was communicating with.

Over the course of several months, Baxter continued to contact Shelby, repeatedly requesting her to send photographs and even asking for her home address. His messages revealed a disturbing pattern of grooming behavior, as he persistently expressed a desire to meet her in person and even suggested that he wanted her to be his girlfriend. The court heard that Baxter was also eager to obtain her mobile number and attempted to initiate a phone call through Facebook Messenger, further demonstrating his intent to establish a more direct and personal connection.

In addition to his contact with Shelby, Baxter also reached out to another decoy account believed to be named Jasmine, who was purportedly based in Derby. The messages exchanged with Jasmine revealed that she was also 12 years old, and Baxter’s conversations quickly turned to plans for social outings, such as going to the cinema or having a meal together. Within the first few messages, he was asking if she would go out with him, and he persisted in trying to arrange a meeting, asking to meet her five times in total.

Just before Christmas in 2018, Baxter’s online activity took a further disturbing turn when he contacted what he thought was a 12-year-old girl from Worcester named Sabrina. He suggested they meet at a McDonald’s or a cinema, advising her to tell her mother she was meeting friends or skipping school. The decoys involved in the operation became increasingly concerned about Baxter’s behavior, prompting them to organize a sting operation. The police were called, and Baxter was arrested at his workplace in Anwick.

Following his arrest, Baxter, aged 53 and residing on Kyme Road in Heckington, admitted to three charges of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. His sentencing included a 12-month jail term, which was suspended for two years, along with a requirement to complete 30 days of rehabilitation activities. Additionally, he was ordered to pay £420 in prosecution costs. The court also mandated that Baxter register as a sex offender for the next ten years and imposed a ten-year sexual harm prevention order to restrict his future conduct and protect potential victims.