Woman denies making up false sex abuse claims

A woman has appeared in court to deny making false claims of sexual abuse against two former politicians.

Esther Baker, 43, indicated not guilty pleas at Liverpool Magistrates' Court to four charges of perverting the course of justice.

Two of the allegations relate to former Liberal Democrat MP John Hemming and the late Lib Dem peer Roy Jenkins.

Baker, of West Derby in Liverpool, is also accused of falsely identifying Simon Cole, the former chief constable of Leicestershire Police who died in 2022, as someone who had aided or abetted the commission of sexual offences against her.

Baker is alleged to have falsely identified Hemming as a person who had committed sexual offences against her.

She is also said to have made similar claims about former Labour and Social Democratic Party MP Jenkins, who died in 2003.

Baker faces a fourth allegation that, on one or more occasions, she said she had been the victim of sexual offences committed by groups or males in Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, along with at other outdoor locations, private houses and unknown locations.

All of the alleged offences are said to have taken place between 31 December 2014 and 19 September 2020.

Baker's solicitor, David Woods, told the court: "She maintains the accusations in the case are truthful."

District Judge Timothy Boswell granted unconditional bail to Baker, of Bridgeford Avenue, and she will next appear at Liverpool Crown Court on 11 February.

Last week, the Crown Prosecution Service said the charges had been brought following an extensive investigation into claims made during a probe into alleged organised sexual abuse by public figures.

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