ROBERT BAKER OF SWINDON PLEADS GUILTY TO INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR ON TRAIN AT WESTBURY
In May 2021, a Swindon man named Robert Baker was prosecuted after a disturbing incident on a train approaching Westbury.Baker, aged 38 and resident of Stafford Street, appeared before Swindon Magistrates’ Court, having previously pleaded guilty to charges of outraging public decency and threatening behavior.
The court was informed that on 22 August 2019, Baker boarded a train departing from Weymouth.
During the journey, he sat opposite a family with two young children, aged 3 and 5, and was also visible to another family with a four-year-old child in the same carriage.
The prosecuting authorities reported that Baker slouched in his seat and began behaving inappropriately.
He raised his eyebrows and blew kisses toward the three-year-old child across from him, attempting to attract her attention.
Meanwhile, he exposed his chest and repeatedly moved his hand up and down inside his trousers while staring at the child.
Additionally, Baker spat on his hand up to four times, then placed it back inside his clothing, continuing the obscene motion.
This misconduct persisted for approximately half an hour.
When train staff noticed the behavior, they purportedly shuffled the families around the carriage to keep them out of Baker’s view rather than confronting him directly.
Tragically, Baker’s inappropriate actions did not cease there.
He reportedly repeated similar behavior towards a 12-year-old girl on the train.
As the train arrived at Westbury Railway Station, Baker was asked to leave the train.
He responded with persistent swearing, primarily using the F-word.
National Probation Service officer Lesley Shannon-Lowe explained that Baker’s offender manager had to cease working with him due to “inappropriate messaging.” After learning that a full pre-sentence report had not yet been prepared, the case was adjourned until 19 July at Swindon Magistrates’ Court.
Baker was released on unconditional bail.
It was noted that Baker admitted to offences that do not require him to register as a sex offender.
