ERITH MAN STEVEN BALDOCK SENTENCED FOR REPEATEDLY BREACHING SEXUAL HARM PREVENTION ORDER IN ERITH

In a significant case highlighting ongoing concerns about child safety and offender management, Steven Baldock, a resident of Compton Place in Erith, has been sentenced to three years in prison for violating a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

His breach was linked to an incident on November 14, 2020, when he initiated contact with a 12-year-old girl through the social media platform Instagram. According to reports, Baldock started a conversation with the young girl at approximately 1:30 am, during which he also sent her a photograph of himself. This act was a clear violation of the strict conditions imposed on him, which prohibited him from using the internet to contact or attempt to contact any female under the age of 16.

Residents living with Baldock became aware of his inappropriate online activities when they discovered he was reaching out to girls under 16. Concerned about his behavior, they promptly reported his actions to the police. Further investigations revealed that Baldock was not only contacting the 12-year-old girl but was also engaging with other young females, breaching the terms of his previous orders.

Following these breaches, Baldock was arrested on November 24, 2020. His case was brought before Woolwich Crown Court, where he faced charges related to his violation of the SHPO. On Monday, January 18, 2021, the court sentenced him to three years in prison, emphasizing the risk he continues to pose to female children.

Steven Baldock’s criminal history is extensive. In 2016, he was convicted of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, receiving a two-year jail sentence, which was suspended for two years. He was also placed on the sex offenders register for ten years and was subject to the conditions of the SHPO, which aimed to prevent him from contacting minors online.

His previous conviction was part of a broader pattern of concerning behavior. In November 2016, Baldock, then aged 47 and residing in Mottingham, was caught in an undercover operation conducted by the 'Guardians of the North,' an online child protection team. During this sting, Baldock believed he was communicating with a schoolgirl and sent sexually explicit messages, including graphic videos and pictures of himself. He also engaged in phone conversations, during which he expressed a desire to marry and have children in the future.

He admitted to grooming children online and sending explicit content, pleading guilty to two counts of such offenses at Woolwich Crown Court. Despite the severity of his actions, he was handed a two-year suspended sentence and was ordered to remain on the sex offenders register for ten years. His residence at the time was notably situated between a nursery and a primary school, raising further concerns about his proximity to vulnerable children.

These cases underscore the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in monitoring and managing convicted offenders, especially those with a history of sexual offenses involving minors. The court’s decision to imprison Baldock reflects the seriousness with which such breaches are treated and the importance of safeguarding children from potential harm.