In 2019, the Offender Database reported that Mark Baddeley, then 31, was handed an extended 11-year sentence at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court for the kidnapping and attempted sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl. Baddeley, of Station Road, Shelton, Staffordshire, used a fake Facebook persona named “Jacob” to groom the teenager before ambushing her with a knife at Festival Park.
The investigation by Staffordshire Police revealed that on 24 March 2019, Baddeley lured the victim to a wooded area under the guise of a teenage date. When she arrived, he pulled a knife, grabbed her tightly by the neck, and threatened to hurt her if she screamed. Although he eventually let her go after she pleaded for her life, the court heard he fully intended to assault her sexually and had questioned her about being a virgin.
“Tapped” Behaviour and CCTV Capture
The prosecutor reported that before the attack, the victim noticed Baddeley walking up and down, describing his “behaviour” as “tapped” or “gone in the head.” Following the incident, the teenager ran to safety near Morrisons. Baddeley was captured on CCTV, and after his image was published on StokeonTrentLive, he handed himself in at Burslem Police Station.
In his interview, Baddeley admitted to police that he was interested in girls aged 13 to 16. He pleaded guilty to:
- Meeting a child following sexual grooming.
- Kidnap.
- Committing an offence with the intent to commit a sexual offence.
- Possession of a knife in public.
Sentence and Lifetime Registration
Judge David Fletcher emphasised that the ordeal must have been terrifying for the victim, who now feels “violated” and “ashamed.” For his crimes in Stoke-on-Trent, Mark Baddeley was:
- Sentenced to 11 years (six years in prison and five years on licence).
- Ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.
- Subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).
The extended licence period means Baddeley will be under strict supervision for over a decade to protect the public from his predatory “behaviour.”
Monitoring and Public Protection
Baddeley is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Staffordshire Police. His residency in Shelton, Staffordshire, and his history of “vicious” threats with a weapon remain under lifelong scrutiny.
As a high-risk offender, Baddeley is subject to rigorous conditions, including restrictions on internet use and exclusion zones around schools or parks. Staffordshire Police emphasise that the use of CCTV and community appeals are vital in identifying predators who use social media to “hunt” children. Any attempt by Baddeley to create new online profiles or contact minors will result in an immediate recall to prison.
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