Former Drama Head Jailed for 17 Years Over Horrific Child Sex Crimes
Shaun Baker, 50, ex-head of drama at Ravens Wood School in Bromley, has been locked up for 17 years after being found guilty of multiple child sex offences, including the rape of a 12-year-old pupil.
Baker, from Pembury, Kent, was sentenced at Croydon Crown Court on Monday, May 12, following a trial that exposed years of grooming and abuse.
Guilty of 14 Child Sex Offences
Baker was convicted of 14 crimes, including:
- Three counts of rape
- Multiple counts of sexual activity with a child
- Abuse of position of trust
The offences date back to the late 2000s when Baker was a “popular and respected” teacher at the all-boys Ravens Wood School in Keston. Shockingly, he continued working in education until his arrest in 2021.
Victim’s Heartbreaking Statement: “It Took Away My Innocence”
During sentencing, prosecutor Tara McCarthy read a powerful victim impact statement. The survivor declared:
“This abuse changed my past, but it will not shape my future. I am determined to live my life on my own terms with courage and dignity.”
The victim revealed suffering from nightmares, trust issues, and lifelong psychological scars from Baker’s abuse.
Judge Slams “Exploitation and Grooming”
Sentencing Baker, Judge Peter Gower KC condemned his actions:
“You systematically exploited and groomed the boy. You abused your position of trust as an educator in the most serious way imaginable.”
Police Release Custody Photo, Urge Others to Come Forward
The Metropolitan Police have published Baker’s custody photo and urged anyone affected or with information to step forward.
Safeguarding Concerns Raised Over School’s Role
This shocking case has sparked fresh concerns about safeguarding in schools — particularly how Baker was allowed to teach elsewhere for over a decade after his abuse began.
Ravens Wood School has not released a public statement, but local authorities and the Department for Education are expected to review the case thoroughly.
