CONNOR BAKER SENTENCED IN FOLKESTONE AND HYTHE FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES AND ASSAULTS

In December 2022, a significant legal ruling was handed down concerning Connor Baker, a man whose criminal activities spanned the towns of Folkestone and Hythe. The court's decision came after Baker was convicted of multiple serious offences involving sexual misconduct and violent behavior.

The first incident took place on Sunday, July 11, 2021, near the Royal Military Canal in Hythe. Baker followed an 18-year-old woman along a pathway close to the canal, and at one point, he placed his hands around her waist in an apparent attempt to intimidate or assault her. Fortunately, the victim managed to break free from his grasp and fled the scene, running towards Rampart Road. Her escape was witnessed by a group of her friends, who saw her being chased and then saw her reach safety.

Later, the same group of friends encountered Baker, who was present at Hythe Green. They questioned him about his suspicious behavior, but Baker's response was aggressive. He responded by swinging an asp-type weapon at the group, threatening them before fleeing the area. The police were called to the scene, and Baker was identified as a suspect based on witness descriptions and evidence collected at the scene.

In addition to this incident, Baker's criminal behavior continued in Folkestone. On Friday, November 12, 2021, Baker approached a woman he did not know at her home. He managed to gain entry into her property and then attempted to kiss her, grabbing her in the process. The woman was able to remove him from her house, but Baker did not leave quietly. Instead, he climbed onto her conservatory roof and looked into an upstairs window, causing damage to her property in the process.

The woman reported the incident to the police, and Baker was quickly apprehended after jumping into a nearby garden to evade arrest. His actions led to multiple charges, including trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence, sexual assault, and property damage. He was taken into custody at the scene and later faced trial at Canterbury Crown Court.

During the trial, Baker was found guilty of several charges. He was convicted of assault with intent to commit a sexual offence and possession of an offensive weapon related to the Hythe incident. Regarding the Folkestone incident, he was convicted of trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence, sexual assault, and damaging property.

On Friday, December 9, 2022, Baker, who was 24 years old and formerly resided on Appledore Crescent in Folkestone, was sentenced to nine years in prison. Additionally, the court ordered him to serve an extra four years on licence following his release, reflecting the severity of his crimes and the need for ongoing supervision to protect the community from further harm.