Man caught by pedophile hunters committed suicide

A groom-to-be who was caught by pedophile hunters when he allegedly attempted to meet up with a child at the supermarket, was found dead on his wedding night after he killed himself. 

David Baker was found dead at his home last October after he locked himself in and took a massive overdose, the hearing was told.

The 43-year-old was caught seemingly red-handed by pedophile hunting group ‘Trap group’ after he attempted to arrange a meeting with a 14-year-old boy in the car park for sex.

Baker was later arrested by police and questioned on suspicion of meeting children for sex following the ‘sting’ in Portswood, Southampton, UK.

Baker was then later released pending further investigation.

He was later discovered dead at his home on his wedding night; police found family photos where he had ‘cut himself out’ along with two notes to his relatives.

The coroner confirmed the verdict as suicide.

After Mr Baker’s arrest, the online vigilante group had shared a video on Facebook of him being challenged about his supposed plans to fulfill the young boy.

The inquest at Winchester heard social networks posts had added to the stress on Mr. Baker and to him being “alone and isolated in his own home”.

It was there he decided to end his own life, the coroner said.

Mr. Baker’s fiancée, Kelly Davies, found out about the ‘sting’ through pals and by several posts on Facebook by Trap, the hearing was told.

She said:

“None people understood anything, we just thought it was somebody being sick, we didn’t think it. We were all upset, the entire family.”.

Ms. Davies, who was due to marry Mr. Baker later this year, stated she moved out of your home with her daughter and granddaughter to remain in a good friend’s caravan after discovering the news.

Describing Mr. Baker, a gardener, she stated: “He was a kind, loving guy, he would do a lot of people, constantly ready to help.”.

Her daughter, Cherelle Stares stated they had not felt safe staying at their house.

She stated:

“Our address was put publicly on social networks, I didn’t feel safe as there are idiots out there and I didn’t want a brick being executed the window with my mum and child there.”.

Pc James Giles said Mr. Baker was recommended by the task lawyer to address all questions during his interview as “no remark” however likewise informed not to answer questions about his welfare and mindset.

The officer said:

“In his interview, he had legal recommendations from the task solicitor, who told him to say no remark.

“After the interview, we have to check on the welfare of individuals apprehended, it is entirely separate of the police interview and cannot be utilized as evidence, and Mr. Baker was told this.

” But his solicitor told him to address no comment to that also.”.

He added that he was offered brochures of independent charities and helplines that might supply him with support and suggestions.

In a statement read out to the inquest, Mr. Baker’s mum, Janice, stated she had actually been attempting to talk to her son in the days after his arrest.

Nevertheless, she stated she had not been able to connect with him.

The inquest heard Mr. Baker was found depending on the bed, with packets of prescription drugs “within reaching the range of him”.

After calling the authorities to report that she could not reach him, officers forced entry to his house, where they discovered him dead in his bed.

The inquest heard several family pictures were found “cut up” downstairs.

Recording a suicide verdict, coroner Grahame Short stated:

“It’s clear he was offered guidance, and he was asked as to his frame of mind.

“I do unknown if it would have made any difference if his solicitor had enabled him to answer questions about his mindset or welfare however he didn’t believe in any event.”.

He included:

“It’s not for me to evaluate David’s actions on October 4 or indeed the effects of Southampton Trap which led to his arrest.

“However I believe in this specific case the posts on social networks after his arrest added to the tension on David and to him being alone and isolated in his own house where he made his choice to end his own life.

“This was for that reason a causative factor to exactly what caused his death, a minimum of in part.”