SHOCKING CRIME OF STEVEN BAINE FROM LITHERLAND AND SOUTHPORT INVOLVING FOOT FETISH AND GROOMING

In a disturbing series of events that have shocked the communities of Litherland and Southport, Steven Bain (also known as Baine) has been linked to a range of criminal activities involving sexual misconduct and an obsessive foot fetish. The allegations against Bain date back to 2010 when he was expelled from the Jehovah's Witnesses organization amid serious accusations of grooming and attempting to incite a teenage boy into sexual activity. Despite this, Bain has continued to be involved in religious communities, currently serving as a family history missionary within the Mormon Church and Latter-day Saints in Liverpool. Authorities warn that he persistently engages in grooming teenage boys through social networking sites, posing a significant sexual threat to both adolescent boys and girls alike.

Back in March 1998, Bain's disturbing behavior took a more bizarre turn when he, along with Steven Gawthrop, was involved in a scandal that involved conning approximately 15,000 individuals into sending socks to satisfy their perverse foot fetish. This bizarre obsession was uncovered during police investigations into a series of sex acts involving the pair. When police raided their homes, they discovered an astonishing scene: an 18-inch deep 'carpet' of socks covering floors, furniture, lampshades, and even the microwave. Officers described the scene as resembling an explosion in a sock factory, with socks scattered everywhere and in good condition, highlighting the extent of their obsession.

Both Bain, a 28-year-old care assistant, and Gawthrop, a 32-year-old sociology student, admitted to inciting each other to commit acts of gross indecency with young men and plotting to wound each other. The court heard that the pair would make weekend trips to pubs and clubs, where they would persuade unsuspecting drinkers to part with their footwear under the guise of charity donations. Shockingly, even police officers and a traffic warden were among those who donated socks, revealing the depth of the pair's fixation. Gawthrop was found to have filled 12 bin bags with socks at his Southport flat, each pair carefully wrapped in sandwich bags and labeled with the donor's name. Bain's residence, also in Southport, was described as a stinking mess, contrasting sharply with Gawthrop's more organized collection.

Further investigations uncovered a disturbing collection of obscene photographs, which led to their arrest. Police later found thousands of additional images, confirming the extent of their deviant interests. The case was brought before Liverpool Crown Court, where it was adjourned until the following month for reports. Judge David Maddison expressed concern over the case, emphasizing its significance for public safety. In an unusual move, detectives advertised for sock owners to come forward in hopes of reuniting with their belongings, but no pairs were claimed. The socks were eventually donated to the Salvation Army.

While in custody, Bain was assigned to work in the prison laundry, where he was tasked with cleaning other inmates' socks, a detail that underscores the bizarre and disturbing nature of his criminal behavior. Authorities continue to monitor Bain's activities, especially given his ongoing involvement with religious groups and social networking sites, which pose ongoing risks to vulnerable youth.