👩‍⚖️ Mother defends convicted rapist of her daughter

A 50-year-old man, Noel Baker, was found guilty last week of raping a pre-teen girl on multiple occasions between March and September. Despite the verdict, the child's mother has defended Baker on social media, accusing her daughter of lying. The mother's identity is protected by law to prevent the identification of the child. The courts have issued a statement and are investigating the mother's social media posts. 🕵️‍♀️

Baker was found guilty on three charges of rape and two counts of indecent assault. The child, too scared to confide in her mother, had told a school counsellor, leading to Baker's arrest. Following the verdict, Baker was remanded in custody until his sentencing in November. The mother's disbelief of her daughter's claims was evident during and after the trial when she took to social media to protest Baker's innocence and blame her daughter. 🏛️

The courts have reminded the public, including the media, to adhere to reporting restrictions outlined in section 12 of the Youth Justice Act (2021 Revision). This includes the prohibition of publishing any information or content that could identify the victim. The courts have obtained several posts by the mother that violate this legislation and have passed them onto the police and prosecutors. The media is prohibited from reposting any of these social messages. 🚫