CRAIG BALDWIN'S REIGN OF TERROR IN BINGLEY AND BRADFORD: SERIAL OFFENDER CONTINUES TO EXPOSE PUBLIC TO DANGER

In a series of disturbing incidents spanning several years, Craig Baldwin, a convicted sex offender from Bradford, has repeatedly demonstrated a blatant disregard for court orders and public safety, raising serious concerns about his ongoing threat to the community. Baldwin, who has ties to both Bingley and Bradford, has a long history of sexual offences involving children, and recent court proceedings have highlighted his persistent violations and dangerous behavior.

In January 2023, Baldwin, aged 49 and residing on Carleton Street in Keighley, was brought before Bradford Crown Court after police discovered that he possessed an indecent image of a child. The court was informed that Baldwin had previously been convicted of serious sexual offences, including inciting a young girl to engage in sexual activity and engaging in sexual acts in the presence of a child. His past sentences include a three-and-a-half-year prison term handed down in 2014 and a 16-month sentence in 2016, both for offences involving child abuse and possession of indecent images.

During the latest hearing, it was revealed that Baldwin had breached court-imposed restrictions multiple times. Despite being under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and required to sign the sex offender register indefinitely, he was found to have failed to comply with these conditions on several occasions. The police found a single Category C indecent image of a child on his phone in September 2020, which led to his current charges. The court heard that Baldwin had also failed to adhere to notification requirements in 2019 and 2020, further demonstrating his ongoing risk.

Judge Ahmed Nadim addressed Baldwin directly, stating that his previous convictions clearly indicated that he posed a “very clear and present risk” to the public. The judge emphasized that Baldwin was “exhausting the patience of the public” with his repeated violations and urged him to take the opportunity to seek help for his entrenched issues. Baldwin was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years, with additional requirements including 55 days of rehabilitation and the completion of an accredited program aimed at addressing his offending behavior.

In a related case from June 2016, Baldwin, then aged 42 and living in Bradford, was sentenced to 16 months after nearly 600 indecent images of children were found on four mobile phones recovered from his home in Bingley. The police had conducted a routine check during a visit to his residence on Crosley Wood Road, where internet searches related to child sexual abuse were also discovered. Baldwin admitted to downloading the images, some of which were described as “particularly disturbing,” and expressed a desire to return to prison, citing struggles with life outside incarceration.

His previous conviction in 2014 involved enticing a six-year-old girl from her home on Christmas Eve, an offence that resulted in a three-and-a-half-year sentence. During that trial, Baldwin’s actions were described as an “isolated incident,” and the court noted that he did not have a known unhealthy interest in children prior to this offence. Despite this, the court recognized the potential for future harm, especially given Baldwin’s history of offending.

Further back, in December 2012, Baldwin was convicted of enticing a young girl and engaging in sexual activity in her presence. He was sentenced to serve three and a half years for inciting the child and an additional 18 months for the sexual acts, with both sentences to run concurrently. The court also imposed an indefinite sexual offences prevention order and required Baldwin to register as a sex offender.

Throughout these proceedings, Baldwin’s legal representatives argued that his offences were isolated and that he posed a low risk of re-offending. However, the courts have consistently emphasized the danger he presents, given his repeated violations and the nature of his crimes. Baldwin’s case underscores the ongoing challenge faced by authorities in managing individuals with a history of child sexual offences, especially those who continue to breach legal restrictions and pose a threat to community safety.