Gary Baum

Gary Baum, a former teacher from Cumbria, faced court proceedings in 2016 after admitting to serious offences involving a 15-year-old pupil. At Carlisle Crown Court, he was sentenced to an immediate eight-month custodial term for abducting the child by transporting her to his house during school hours and for taking and making indecent images of the same victim. The pair had exchanged explicit messages, though there was no evidence of a physical sexual relationship. The judge described the actions as a 'gross breach of trust', noting that Baum's teaching career was effectively over and that he had 'lost everything' as a result.

As part of his original punishment, Baum was required to comply with a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) for a decade, which monitored his online activities, and to adhere to sex offender notification requirements, keeping police informed of his personal details. These measures were imposed to prevent further harm and ensure ongoing oversight following his release.

Baum's compliance came under scrutiny years later. Between August 2019 and May 2023, he breached the SHPO by deleting internet history, including texts, calls, and applications, from his devices. He also failed to notify police about a cryptocurrency account he held, violating the notification requirements. These breaches were uncovered during a routine home compliance visit by Cumbria Police, who seized and examined two phones. Officers identified concerns on the devices, including the deletion of an additional internet browser, rendering no internet history recoverable.

At Carlisle Magistrates’ Court on Friday, Baum, aged 67 and residing in Penruddock near Penrith, pleaded guilty to the two new offences. Prosecutor Diane Jackson outlined how the routine check led to the discoveries. In mitigation, defence solicitor Jeff Smith explained that Baum had deleted items due to phone memory issues and claimed that his initial police offender manager had permitted some deletions. Smith noted that Baum was 'terrified' by his court appearance but 'flummoxed', emphasising that these were the only breaches in nearly nine years of compliance.

District Judge Philip Holden adjourned the case for further information and evidence from police regarding Baum’s explanations. Baum was granted unconditional bail and is scheduled for sentencing early next year. The original 2016 case was reported by Cumbria Police and covered in local media, with the teen’s mother expressing devastation over the impact of Baum’s actions.