RICHARD BAKER FROM BODMIN INVOLVED IN HORRIFIC CRIMES IN MILTON KEYNES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
| Red Rose Database
Bodmin Rapist
In a disturbing series of events that have shocked the communities involved, Richard Baker, a man with a long and troubling criminal history, has been found guilty of multiple heinous offenses, including possessing and creating indecent images of children, as well as committing multiple sexual assaults. The case, which unfolded at Aylesbury Crown Court in Buckinghamshire, revealed the extent of Baker's dangerous behavior and his ability to evade detection for years.
Richard Baker, aged 51 and originally from Bodmin, Cornwall, was convicted of nine counts related to the possession and production of indecent images of children. The court heard that Baker managed to smuggle a tablet into his cell at Chadwick Lodge, a medium security mental health facility in Milton Keynes, where he was serving a sentence for previous crimes. The tablet, purchased in February 2012 for £580, was concealed within a parcel wrapped in bubble wrap, paper, newspaper, and sweets, and was not intercepted by staff due to the facility's policy of not censoring incoming mail.
Using this device, Baker accessed illegal websites and downloaded hundreds of child abuse images, some depicting children as young as four being raped. These images were among the material he viewed over a period of five months in 2012. Baker openly admitted to Dr. David Forshaw, a consultant forensic psychiatrist at the hospital, that he possessed the tablet but refused to disclose the PIN, further indicating his intent to conceal his activities.
During the trial, Judge Francis Sheridan condemned Baker's actions, stating, “If ever there was a clear and present danger to women and female children, this man represents it, it is as simple as that. I think you are one of the most dangerous men I have ever had the displeasure of trying.” The judge also highlighted Baker's disturbing interest in very young children, describing him as a control freak and emphasizing the threat he posed to society.
In addition to his crimes involving children, Baker has a long history of sexual violence. He was previously convicted of raping a 19-year-old woman in North Devon ten years prior and had also been convicted of engaging in sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl. His modus operandi often involved slipping the date-rape drug Rohypnol into the drinks of unsuspecting women, rendering them unconscious and vulnerable to attack.
In May 1999, Baker, then a DJ from Bodmin, was found guilty of multiple rapes and faced a potential life sentence. Police believed he was one of the most prolific sex offenders of the century, with suspicions that he was responsible for a series of attacks across Britain, Ireland, and Spain. Authorities urged other victims to come forward, as Baker's crimes spanned several countries and involved a pattern of predatory behavior.
His criminal activities in the UK included attacks in Sussex, Essex, and North London, with some victims assaulted just hours after he returned from working in Spain. Baker's brother, Kevin, 36, from the Costa del Sol, played a crucial role in his arrest by recognizing an E-fit image of Baker after seeing trailers for the BBC Crimewatch program, which was highly praised for its effectiveness in capturing offenders. Baker was remanded in custody until June 18 for psychiatric assessments, with the judge noting that he faced life imprisonment.
Throughout the investigation, Baker's history of violence and predatory behavior was laid bare. His previous convictions, combined with his recent actions, paint a picture of a man who has repeatedly exploited and harmed vulnerable women and children. His parents expressed regret and sorrow for the victims, with his father, John, a farmer from Bodmin, suggesting that earlier intervention might have prevented some of his son's later crimes. Conversely, Baker's brother Kevin criticized him for not seeking help when it was available, stating that Richard always sought fame and notoriety, which he has now achieved through his criminal acts.
As Baker begins serving his sentences, the community remains deeply disturbed by the extent of his offenses and the danger he posed. Authorities continue to urge victims and witnesses to come forward, emphasizing the importance of justice and safeguarding vulnerable individuals from predators like Richard Baker.
Richard Baker, aged 51 and originally from Bodmin, Cornwall, was convicted of nine counts related to the possession and production of indecent images of children. The court heard that Baker managed to smuggle a tablet into his cell at Chadwick Lodge, a medium security mental health facility in Milton Keynes, where he was serving a sentence for previous crimes. The tablet, purchased in February 2012 for £580, was concealed within a parcel wrapped in bubble wrap, paper, newspaper, and sweets, and was not intercepted by staff due to the facility's policy of not censoring incoming mail.
Using this device, Baker accessed illegal websites and downloaded hundreds of child abuse images, some depicting children as young as four being raped. These images were among the material he viewed over a period of five months in 2012. Baker openly admitted to Dr. David Forshaw, a consultant forensic psychiatrist at the hospital, that he possessed the tablet but refused to disclose the PIN, further indicating his intent to conceal his activities.
During the trial, Judge Francis Sheridan condemned Baker's actions, stating, “If ever there was a clear and present danger to women and female children, this man represents it, it is as simple as that. I think you are one of the most dangerous men I have ever had the displeasure of trying.” The judge also highlighted Baker's disturbing interest in very young children, describing him as a control freak and emphasizing the threat he posed to society.
In addition to his crimes involving children, Baker has a long history of sexual violence. He was previously convicted of raping a 19-year-old woman in North Devon ten years prior and had also been convicted of engaging in sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl. His modus operandi often involved slipping the date-rape drug Rohypnol into the drinks of unsuspecting women, rendering them unconscious and vulnerable to attack.
In May 1999, Baker, then a DJ from Bodmin, was found guilty of multiple rapes and faced a potential life sentence. Police believed he was one of the most prolific sex offenders of the century, with suspicions that he was responsible for a series of attacks across Britain, Ireland, and Spain. Authorities urged other victims to come forward, as Baker's crimes spanned several countries and involved a pattern of predatory behavior.
His criminal activities in the UK included attacks in Sussex, Essex, and North London, with some victims assaulted just hours after he returned from working in Spain. Baker's brother, Kevin, 36, from the Costa del Sol, played a crucial role in his arrest by recognizing an E-fit image of Baker after seeing trailers for the BBC Crimewatch program, which was highly praised for its effectiveness in capturing offenders. Baker was remanded in custody until June 18 for psychiatric assessments, with the judge noting that he faced life imprisonment.
Throughout the investigation, Baker's history of violence and predatory behavior was laid bare. His previous convictions, combined with his recent actions, paint a picture of a man who has repeatedly exploited and harmed vulnerable women and children. His parents expressed regret and sorrow for the victims, with his father, John, a farmer from Bodmin, suggesting that earlier intervention might have prevented some of his son's later crimes. Conversely, Baker's brother Kevin criticized him for not seeking help when it was available, stating that Richard always sought fame and notoriety, which he has now achieved through his criminal acts.
As Baker begins serving his sentences, the community remains deeply disturbed by the extent of his offenses and the danger he posed. Authorities continue to urge victims and witnesses to come forward, emphasizing the importance of justice and safeguarding vulnerable individuals from predators like Richard Baker.