Former head of drama jailed for abusing student in devastating betrayal of trust
A “popular” senior drama teacher has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for sexual offences against a male pupil.
Shaun Baker, 50, head of drama at Ravens Wood School in Keston, Bromley, was found guilty of 14 counts of sexual abuse including three counts of rape.
The student was 12-years-old when the abuse started, and Croydon Crown Court heard how he was groomed, made to engage in sexual activity with Baker and raped three times.
Baker committed the offences in the late 2000s, a time when he was described as a “well-liked and respected” figure within the all-boys school.
Despite the abuse beginning more than a decade ago, Baker continued to work in schools until his arrest in 2021 – a fact that has raised serious concerns about how Baker’s heinous abuse of a child went undetected for so long.
A hidden nightmare
In court, a statement from the now-adult survivor laid bare the lifelong impact of the abuse. He described “vivid nightmares”, a deep sense of mistrust, and the loss of his childhood innocence.
The statement read: “It took away my innocence, altered the course of my adolescence and impacted my adult life in many ways.”
Yet, with remarkable resilience, he concluded: “This abuse changed my past, but it will not shape my future.”
Justice delivered
Following a two-week trial at Croydon Crown Court, Baker was found guilty of 14 offences on Friday 9 May 2025. The presiding judge, Peter Gower KC, delivered a 17-year sentence, condemning Baker for “exploiting and grooming” a child entrusted to his care.
Emphasising the seriousness of Baker’s actions and the breach of professional and moral responsibility, Judge Gower said: “This was a gross abuse of your position.”
Although Baker’s defence argued he had otherwise been a positive influence in his teaching career, there was no mitigating the gravity of his crimes. His career in education is over, and he is now permanently banned from teaching.
A wake-up call for safeguarding in schools
This case is a chilling reminder that abuse can happen even in environments that seem safe and supportive. It reinforces the importance of rigorous safeguarding procedures, open channels for reporting concerns, and ongoing vigilance from school communities.
As a society, we must continue to ensure survivors feel safe to speak out and that when they do, they are heard and believed. The courage of the survivor in this case helped bring a predator to justice and may well have prevented further harm to others.
Here at BBK we feel passionate about supporting survivors through their journey to obtaining justice and closure. Together as a team we have decades of experience of achieving the very best outcomes for our clients.
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