July 2012 Jail for pensioner who abused girl A former defence worker has been jailed for three years and nine months after sexually abusing a girl. The victim was just nine when her ordeal started, Preston Crown Court heard. But shameless Keith Baines, 69, continues to deny the sordid offences despite being found guilty of four counts by a jury. Baines, dressed in a striped jacket, clasped his hands in the dock as Judge Simon Altham said: “The aggravating features are that this was a serious breach of trust, the age discrepancy, the very young age of the victim, and that this was repeated conduct.” He described the victim as a “polite and pleasant young girl” who had been well brought up. Prosecuting, David Clarke told the court the youngster – who cannot be identified – was aged between nine and 13 when the offences took place. Usually Baines, of Wordsworth Close, Walton-le-Dale, near Preston, would reach over and touch the girl whilst they were both sitting on a settee, both over and under her clothing. Mr Clarke said: “Nothing had been said by the child until July last year when a disclosure was made through the father of one of her friends. “In video evidence she explained she didn’t know what to do. She said she felt dirty and ashamed. The defendant was arrested. In interview the defendant said he would sometimes tickle her tummy and legs but that’s as far as it went.” In a harrowing statement read in court, the terrified schoolgirl, describing the impact on her life, said she sometimes wished she had died. She said: “For many years I would lie awake turning it over in my mind.” Defending, Amanda Johnson said other than these offences Baines had led a “blameless” life. The Evening Post understands he worked for defence electronics firm Siemens Plessy before retiring with ill health. He is disqualified from working with children and the judge made a sexual offences prevention order (SOPO) banning unsupervised contact with children.