JOHN BAKER SENTENCED TO THREE YEARS IN PRISON IN JERSEY FOR HISTORIC CHILD ABUSE

In June 2014, John Baker, a well-regarded painter and decorator, was sentenced to three years in prison by the Royal Court for historical sexual assault charges. Baker, 76 years old, was convicted in April of four counts of indecent assault and two charges of procuring an act of gross indecency involving a six-year-old girl, offenses that occurred approximately 40 years earlier at a property in St Helier.

Crown Advocate Julian Gollop emphasized that Baker denied all allegations and exhibited no remorse despite the long-lasting impact on his victim, stating, “Baker had shown no remorse for his actions.” He also requested that Baker be ordered to cover the prosecution’s costs.

The Crown originally proposed a total sentence of four and a half years—three years for the indecent assaults and an additional 18 months for the other charges. However, defense advocate David Cadin argued that the offenses were at “the very lower end of the spectrum” and suggested community service as an alternative to imprisonment.

Advocate Cadin described the offenses as "not premeditated,” noting there was no grooming, threats, or force involved. He added, “these were not only of short duration but very limited in repetition.”

During sentencing, Royal Court Commissioner Julian Clyde-Smith highlighted the seriousness of the crimes, noting they involved “a young vulnerable child in circumstances of an extreme breach of trust,” and that Baker had caused his victim to endure a trial and cross-examination. Baker was sentenced to three years for each of the four indecent assaults and 18 months for the remaining two charges, with all terms to run concurrently.

He was also ordered to comply with the sex offender notification requirements under the Jersey Sex Offenders (Jersey) Law 2010 for at least five years. The court reserved judgment on costs for a later date.