A woman has appeared in court accused of fabricating a series of serious sexual abuse allegations, including claims involving a former Liberal Democrat MP and a late party peer.
Not Guilty Pleas Entered at Magistrates' Court
Esther Baker, 43, made a brief appearance at Liverpool Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, 14 January 2026. The defendant, from Bridgeford Avenue in West Derby, Liverpool, indicated not guilty pleas to all four charges she faces. The allegations against her all relate to the offence of perverting the course of justice.
Her defence solicitor, David Woods, told the court: "She maintains the accusations in the case are truthful." District Judge Timothy Boswell granted Baker unconditional bail following the hearing.
Details of the Alleged False Claims
While the specifics were not read aloud in court, official documents outline the nature of the accusations. Baker is alleged to have falsely identified former Lib Dem MP John Hemming as a person who committed sexual offences against her.
She is also accused of making similar false claims about the late Roy Jenkins, a former Labour and Social Democratic Party MP who died in 2003. A third charge relates to her allegedly falsely identifying Simon Cole, the former Chief Constable of Leicestershire Police who died in 2022, as someone who aided or abetted sexual offences against her.
The fourth allegation states that on one or more occasions, Baker said she was the victim of sexual offences committed by groups of males in Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, as well as at other outdoor locations, private houses, and unknown places.
Case Proceeds to Crown Court
All the alleged offences are said to have taken place between 31 December 2014 and 19 September 2020. The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed last week that the charges followed an extensive investigation into claims made during a probe into alleged organised sexual abuse by public figures.
The case has now been sent to Liverpool Crown Court, where Baker is next due to appear on 11 February.
