STEPHEN BALDWIN OF LONDON SENTENCED IN SHEFFIELD OVER ONLINE GROOMING OFFENCE

STEPHEN BALDWIN OF LONDON SENTENCED IN SHEFFIELD OVER ONLINE GROOMING OFFENCE

In June 2021, Stephen Baldwin, age 53, was convicted of attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming after being caught by online paedophile hunters.

Baldwin was placed under a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Sheffield Crown Court was told on June 14 that Baldwin made contact via an online profile created by paedophile hunters, who posed as a teenage boy living in Barnsley.

Prosecutor Simon Reevell explained, “So-called paedophile hunters had placed a profile of a fictitious person called Lee, a bisexual male, 22 years old, who claimed to live in Barnsley.” The court heard Baldwin engaged with this profile, which then claimed to be 15 years old.

Their conversation escalated, with Baldwin exchanging phone numbers and discussing sexual intercourse.

Reevell stated that Baldwin arranged to meet the fictitious teen at Barnsley Interchange rail and bus station in April 2017.

However, Baldwin was confronted by the paedophile hunters, and police were called.

He was subsequently arrested.

Baldwin, of Highgate Road, London, pleaded guilty to attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming.

The prosecutor added that Baldwin had other previous matters on record, but they were old and not relevant to this case.

Judge Graham Reeds told Baldwin, “You have not been in trouble since you were arrested for these matters, and these took place more than four years ago.

What you did warrants an immediate custodial sentence but for the fact you have not been in trouble for four years and there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.” He sentenced Baldwin to 12 months in custody, suspended for two years, with requirements for a sexual group work programme and rehabilitation.

Additionally, Baldwin was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for ten years and was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, also lasting ten years.