Benjamin Baxter, a 38-year-old pub landlord from Wakefield, has been sentenced to an extended term of imprisonment after being found guilty of multiple serious sexual offences against three women. The case, heard at Leeds Crown Court, highlighted Baxter's pattern of predatory behaviour spanning several years, including rapes committed while he was on bail for previous charges.
The offences for which Baxter was most recently convicted occurred between 2016 and 2024. He was found guilty of four counts of rape and one count of coercive and controlling behaviour following a trial in May 2025. Notably, two of the rapes took place after Baxter had been arrested and released under investigation for earlier charges. In August 2024, he lured one woman into a wooded area in Wakefield and raped her. Subsequently, in December 2024, while still under investigation, he raped another woman while she was asleep. These acts demonstrated a blatant disregard for legal restrictions and the safety of others.
Victim personal statements provided harrowing insights into the devastating impact of Baxter's actions. One victim described the profound trauma, stating she had attempted to take her own life following the attack and called Baxter a 'pure predator who lacks empathy for anyone else', adding, 'This man has ruined me.' Another victim spoke of ongoing psychological effects, including panic attacks and insomnia, saying, 'I wake up in the night and can’t switch my brain off. I still get thoughts where I blame myself for what you did but I’m working to forgive myself.' These statements underscored the long-lasting harm inflicted by Baxter's crimes.
The court also considered Baxter's prior convictions for sexual assault against two teenage girls in 2013 and 2015, for which he had previously been sentenced to three years in prison. Despite his defence counsel, Richard Canning, citing Baxter's Asperger’s Syndrome as a mitigating factor, His Honour Judge David Batty rejected this, stating it had no bearing on the offences. Judge Batty described Baxter as a 'dangerous and manipulative sexual predator' who had shown 'a complete disregard for women and their wishes' over many years. Addressing the timing of the later rapes, the judge remarked, 'I’m not sure I’ve ever encountered such arrogance.'
A pre-sentence report revealed Baxter's 'distorted beliefs of sexual entitlement' and his failure to accept responsibility, leading to the conclusion that he posed a significant risk of reoffending. Consequently, on 19 August 2025, Judge Batty imposed an extended sentence of 20 years' imprisonment, followed by a five-year extended licence period. Indefinite restraining orders were also issued, prohibiting Baxter from contacting any of the three victims. The sentencing aimed to protect the public and provide some measure of justice for the victims, as noted in reports from the Yorkshire Evening Post and statements from West Yorkshire Police.
Detective Constable Hannah Banks from the Wakefield District Adult Safeguarding Unit emphasised Baxter's danger to the community, particularly as a known local figure due to his role as a pub landlord. She highlighted the victims' courage in reporting the offences and supporting the prosecution, contrasting it with Baxter's lack of remorse throughout the process.