NEIL BALDWIN OF BURNLEY SENTENCED TO FIVE AND A HALF YEARS FOR GROOMING 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL
In September 2017, Neil Baldwin, a 29-year-old electrician from Burnley, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for grooming and sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl.Baldwin targeted the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, when he was aware of her vulnerable state.
The Preston Crown Court heard that he sent her explicit texts and photographs, exploiting her during a difficult period in her life.
At the time of the abuse, she was facing bullying at school, had recently ended a relationship, and was self-harming.
The court was informed that Baldwin, a father of one from Rosemount Avenue, Burnley, had recently separated from his partner and was using large amounts of cocaine.
He worked to gain her trust, ensuring she deleted any sexually explicit messages so he would avoid detection.
The abuse escalated when Baldwin took the girl to a caravan, where he touched her and coerced her into engaging in sexual activities.
After the incident, the girl confided in a family member, leading to Baldwin’s arrest.
Baldwin was found guilty of grooming and two counts of sexual activity with a child, after the girl testified during the trial.
Judge Heather Lloyd, in her sentencing, remarked: “You said she was really down and you were supporting her.
She was a child and clearly didn’t know how to appropriately respond to your behaviour.
You were the adult and a father and you should have known better.
On that night in the caravan, you took advantage of her low self-esteem and her vulnerability.
In the weeks and months proceeding, when she was only 12, you groomed her to the point you were able to sexually abuse her.” A victim impact statement from the girl described how Baldwin had ruined her life and his own.
Her academic performance has declined, and she has suffered from anxiety and sleepless nights in anticipation of the trial.
Judge Lloyd also criticized family members who did not believe her account, saying: “It may be that your brain was muddled but most men when they are intoxicated for any reason do not sexually offend against anyone, let alone a 12-year-old girl.
This was not one-off offending but a continuing course of action over months leading up to the caravan incident.” The court was told that Baldwin has since overcome his addiction to cocaine.
Judge Lloyd imposed a five-and-a-half-year prison term, a lifelong sexual harm prevention order to protect children from him, and ordered his inclusion on the sex offenders’ register for life.
