DEAN BAXTER, THE PREDATORY PAEDOPHILE FROM NORWICH, STRIKES AGAIN AT FAMILY HOLIDAY PARKS

In April 2016, a disturbing case emerged involving Dean Baxter, a man with a deeply troubling past, who was found working at a family holiday park in North Walsham, Norfolk, despite a history of heinous sexual offenses. Baxter, originally from Norwich, had previously served a six-year prison sentence for multiple counts of child rape and sexual assault. His criminal record included three separate rapes of a schoolboy and sexual assaults on another young boy, crimes he committed when he was just 19 years old in 2011.

Despite his conviction, Baxter managed to deceive his way into employment at the Dream Lodge holiday park, where he worked as a waiter for four months. He applied for the job under a false name and provided questionable references, successfully concealing his criminal background. His employment at the park, which is marketed as an ideal destination for families seeking entertainment and relaxation, raised serious concerns about safety and oversight.

It was only after a vigilant customer, who wished to remain anonymous, noticed Baxter working at the Olive Tree restaurant within the park that authorities were alerted. The customer expressed outrage, stating, “It’s sick. He was working in a family place, serving kids and getting involved in group activities. There was even a special Easter lunch for families with kids. You think your children are safe somewhere like that, but he was there working the whole time. Who knows what was going through his mind when he saw the children coming and going.”

Following this revelation, police swiftly intervened. On April 3, Baxter was recognized and subsequently recalled to prison for breaching the conditions of his early release. The very next day, he was dismissed from his position at the restaurant. This incident occurred just weeks after the park had advertised an Easter event, which included activities such as an Easter Egg Hunt and a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, aimed at entertaining children and families. The promotional material emphasized the park’s family-friendly environment, claiming it was “an ideal park for keeping your children entertained whilst you also have a relaxing break,” and highlighted additional facilities designed to amuse visitors of all ages.

Unbeknownst to the park’s management, Baxter had been lurking within the premises for four months, free to observe and potentially exploit the children present. He was reportedly living on-site with his girlfriend, who also worked at the park, sharing a residence at the location. Baxter’s social media profiles painted a picture of a “friendly theatre technician/actor from Norwich,” who enjoyed coffee and custard creams, and claimed his favorite musical was Avenue Q. However, beneath this friendly facade lay a man with a long history of sexual offenses against minors.

His criminal record dates back to 2011, when he was convicted of nine charges, including child rape, sexual assault by touching, and engaging in sexual activity in front of a child. Over a period of five years, Baxter had befriended boys under the age of 13 in Norwich, gaining their trust before abusing that trust to commit sexual offenses. Despite overwhelming evidence and a guilty verdict, Baxter refused to admit his guilt. His crimes included sexually assaulting a six or seven-year-old boy and a 10 or 11-year-old boy, with whom he raped three times. The court, recognizing his young age at the time of the offenses, sentenced him to six years in prison but ordered him to register as a sex offender for life and prohibited him from unsupervised contact with anyone under 16.

In response to the incident at the holiday park, a spokeswoman for Dream Lodge stated, “Dream Lodge Group confirms it employed Dean Baxter as a waiter for four months. Baxter applied for the job under a false name and with false credentials. Once the company discovered his true identity he was summarily dismissed. Whilst it is not a legal requirement to DBS check employees who are not directly working with children or the infirm, Dream Lodge is instigating new procedures to ensure this incident is never repeated. The company makes the safety and security of its guests an utmost priority.”

Norwich authorities and the Norfolk Constabulary have expressed their concern over the case, emphasizing the importance of vigilance and thorough background checks in safeguarding children. Detective Constable Hayley Gleave from the Vulnerable People Unit highlighted the gravity of the case, stating, “This was a disturbing case that will impact on the victims and their families for the rest of their lives. I want to thank them for having the courage to come forward and hope that this result will encourage others who have suffered in a similar way to see that Norfolk Constabulary can deal with such an issue in a highly sensitive but effective way.”