Arnold David Baxter

Arnold David Baxter, a 74-year-old man also known as David, has a history of serious sexual offences against children. In March 2001, he abducted and sexually assaulted a six-year-old girl in Barton-under-Needwood, Staffordshire, leaving the local community and the victim's family in profound shock.

Baxter evaded justice for over 15 years until a DNA match from a drink-driving offence in 2016 led to his arrest at his home in Rugby, Warwickshire. During the search, police seized 11 electronic devices capable of storing digital media. Forensic examination revealed 6,582 indecent images of children, with nearly 700 classified in the most serious Category A.

Originally, in February 2017, Baxter was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment at court for the kidnap and sexual assault. On 15 August 2018, he pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent or pseudo-images of children at Leamington Magistrates’ Court. Sentencing occurred on 6 November 2018 at Warwick Crown Court, where Judge Andrew Lockhart imposed an additional 12 months for the Category A offence, to be served consecutively to his existing sentence. Concurrent sentences of four months for Category B and three months for Category C images were also given.

The court further issued a Sexual Harm Prevention Order against Baxter and a destruction order for the seized equipment. Detective Inspector Victoria Downing of Staffordshire Police commented: “Baxter’s crime left the local community and the victim’s parents in a complete state of shock. It took many years for him to be brought before the courts and it has taken more time to forensically examine files retrieved from his home address. We are glad he has now been sentenced and remains in prison for an extended period.” This case underscores the long-term pursuit of justice in child sex offences, as reported by Lichfield Live on 7 November 2018.