PHILLIP BARTLETT AND DAVID BALDOCK'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN SOUTHAMPTON AND NORTHAM SPARK OUTRAGE

In October 2002, a deeply disturbing case unfolded involving two men, Phillip Bartlett and David Baldock, whose heinous actions in Southampton and Northam have left a lasting scar on the community. The incident centered around the sexual abuse of two 11-year-old girls, which not only resulted in severe legal repercussions but also ignited a wave of anger and unrest among local residents.

According to court reports, Bartlett, aged 37, and Baldock, aged 52, committed their crimes within a flat located in Southampton. The two men subjected the young girls to a series of sexual assaults, which included plying them with alcohol and engaging in group sex acts that have been described as sordid and deeply disturbing. The abuse took place in Baldock’s council flat, situated in Shannon House on Kent Street, Northam. The victims, who were only 11 years old at the time, were lured into the flat under the pretense of doing some shopping, having been given a small amount of money for fish and chips prior to the incident.

Details emerged that both girls appeared to be under the influence of alcohol when the assaults occurred, and the men’s actions were characterized by a blatant disregard for the girls’ age and vulnerability. The mother of one of the victims, whose identity has been kept confidential to protect her daughter’s privacy, expressed her outrage and heartbreak. She stated, “These blokes knew exactly what they were doing. You could easily see the girls were only 11 or 12. They were immature. Yet these men tried to force drink down their necks.” She further lamented the impact on her daughter, saying, “She will never be the same again. To this day, she hasn’t really told me what happened in there. It’s like she has bottled it all up inside. I would like to know what is going on in her head.”

In a tragic turn of events, one of the girls managed to escape and raise the alarm, which led to a violent and chaotic response from the local community. A vigilante mob, incensed by the revelations, took to the streets of Northam estate, running riot in their pursuit of the offenders. The scene was chaotic, with between 15 and 20 individuals, many of whom were local teenagers, storming through the streets in anger and frustration. Bartlett, who was found without underwear and leaving the flat, was chased into the nearby Prince of Wales pub, while Baldock, disheveled and bleeding, was pursued to Northam Community Centre, where he was detained for his own safety.

Both men were eventually arrested amid scenes of public outrage, which included the smashing of a window at Southampton Central police station. During the court proceedings at Southampton Crown Court, both men pleaded guilty to multiple charges of indecent assault—Bartlett to three charges and Baldock to four. The court also ordered both men to register as sex offenders indefinitely and prohibited them from ever working with children again. Judge Chris Leigh QC sentenced them to four years in prison, emphasizing the gravity of their crimes. He stated, “You two men used these two girls for your own sexual pleasure. Although intercourse did not take place, this was group sex involving two 11-year-old girls and two men in their 30s and 50s.”

Further details revealed that the victims had visited Baldock’s flat at Shannon House, where they had been offered money and had initially gone to do some shopping. The court heard that the girls had been given alcohol before the assaults, which compounded the trauma they endured. The scene inside the flat was described as sparse, with only a mattress, a chair, and a record player present, but the memories of what transpired there will haunt the victims forever.

The victims, who cannot be identified publicly for legal reasons, are now 12 years old and living in Bristol. Despite the trauma, they have expressed a desire to continue their education and aspire to become social workers someday, seeking to turn their painful experiences into a positive future. The court’s verdict and the community’s response underscore the severity of the crimes committed and the ongoing impact on the victims’ lives. The case remains a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and the need for protective measures to safeguard vulnerable children from such predatory behavior.