An alleged fantasist has been charged with perverting the course of justice ten years after accusing various politicians of raping her.
Esther Baker, 43, made allegedly ‘malicious’ claims of child sexual abuse at a time of national hysteria following the launch of Scotland Yard’s disastrous VIP child abuse probe, Operation Midland.
She accused former Lib Dem MP John Hemming and an unnamed politician – said to be one of the most revered figures in post-war politics – of repeatedly raping her in a Staffordshire forest when she was aged between six and 11.
Baker, of West Derby in Liverpool, waived her right to anonymity in a Sky TV interview in May 2015.
She claimed uniformed officers had stood guard as several high-profile individuals, including lords and a judge, assaulted her and other children in Cannock Chase.
Baker alleged other incidents took place at Dolphin Square in London, a large apartment complex in Westminster.
Her case was raised in Parliament and she was backed at the time by Labour MPs including Jess Phillips – now a minister for violence against women and girls.
Baker was later given special status at the national independent child sex abuse inquiry.
Esther Baker, 43, made allegedly ‘malicious’ claims of child sexual abuse carried out by politicians and other high-profile individuals
Former Lib Dem MP John Hemming subsequently won a libel case in relation to comments made on social media by Baker’s supporters
Her claims were investigated by Staffordshire Police and in 2015 Hemming was questioned under caution.
He was never charged and two years later the investigation was dropped due to lack of evidence – however detectives instead looked to the claims put forward by Baker.
She now faces four counts of perverting the course of justice after a child sexual abuse probe and is due to appear at Liverpool & Knowsley Magistrates’ Court on 14 January, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.
Mr Hemming subsequently won a libel case in relation to comments made on social media by Baker’s supporters.
Malcolm McHaffie of the CPS special crime division said: ‘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.’
