A woman has denied making false claims of sexual abuse against former politicians. Esther Baker, from Bridgeford Avenue in West Derby, appeared before Liverpool Crown Court on Friday, charged with four counts of perverting the course of justice.
Court Appearance
Wearing a black suit in the dock with long brown hair, the 43-year-old spoke to confirm her name before pleading not guilty to all charges. She will face a trial lasting six to eight weeks, beginning on March 30, 2027, at the same court.
Adjourning the case and releasing Baker on unconditional bail ahead of a further hearing on February 5, 2027, Judge Brian Cummings KC said: "You have pleaded not guilty to the charges against you. There will be a trial in your case. That trial will begin on the 30th of March next year. You have been on bail. It is unconditional bail. In a few moments, you will be free to leave on the same basis."
Details of Charges
Charge sheets state that Baker falsified allegations of abuse by ex-Liberal Democrat MP for Birmingham Yardley John Hemming and the late Lib Dem peer and Labour Home Secretary Roy Jenkins, who represented Southwark, Birmingham Stechford and Glasgow Hillhead in Parliament.
She is also accused of falsely implicating Simon Cole, the former chief constable of Leicestershire Police, who died in 2022, as having aided or abetted the commission of sexual offences against her.
A fourth charge alleges that Baker wrongly claimed she was a victim of abuse by men in Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, as well as other outdoor locations, private houses and unknown places. The counts relate to a period between December 31, 2014, and September 19, 2020.
Prosecution Statement
Malcolm McHaffie, of the Crown Prosecution Service's special crime division, said in a statement when Baker was charged earlier this year: "We have decided to prosecute Esther Baker with four counts of perverting the course of justice. These charges are brought following an extensive investigation into the claims made by the defendant in the original investigation into alleged organised child sexual abuse by public figures. Any decision to prosecute someone who has made sexual abuse allegations is not taken lightly and is only pursued where we believe that there is sufficient evidence to prove that the allegations are false, that they were maliciously made, and that it is in the public interest to prosecute. We have worked closely with Staffordshire Police as they carried out their investigation."
