Head of Trinity Barristers' Chambers, Toby Hedworth Q.C. was instructed by the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland in the prosecution of husband and wife, Keith and Caroline Baker at Craigavon Crown Court in "house of horrors" case.
The couple pleaded guilty to what Toby Hedworth Q.C. described as “a catalogue of grave sexual abusive behaviour towards a woman with severe learning disabilities who was kept at the defendants’ home for a number of years for their, and particular Keith Baker’s, sexual gratification.” The incidents took place over eight years between March 2004 and December 2012. The victim in the case was described as being in an emaciated state when rescued by the police in 2012 having been kept in appalling conditions in a cold bedroom with no internal door handle, lighting or furniture.
Keith Baker pleaded guilty to eleven charges and Caroline Baker, seven. The couple admitted to three joint charges, two of engaging in sexual activity with a mentally disabled person and one of inciting such a person to engage in sexual activity. Mr Baker admitted to a further six counts of rape and of indecently assaulting the woman. In addition, Caroline Baker pleaded guilty to three offences of aiding and abetting her husband to rape their victim and a single count of indecent assault.
On 4th April 2017 at Craigavon Crown Court, Keith Baker was sentenced to fifteen years in prison with a further five years on licence. Caroline Baker was sentenced to three years, eighteen months of which is to be served in prison with the remainder on licence.
Toby Hedworth Q.C. is a member of Trinity's Criminal, Regulatory and Judicial Review teams.