Newport's masked crime fighter said he wanted to 'strike fear into criminals' (From South Wales Argus)
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Newport's masked crime fighter said he wanted to 'strike fear into criminals'
11:38am Saturday 22nd September 2012 in News
By Natalie Crockett
COMIC-BOOK VIGILANTE: Tanis Baker was dressed in black body armour, was masked and armed with a wooden sword and smoke bombs in Newport's Beechwood Park
A COMIC book-loving vigilante wanted to strike fear into criminals to avenge a street attack on him.
Tanis Baker, 21, dressed in black body armour, masked his face with a balaclava and armed himself with a wooden sword and smoke bombs, at Beechwood Park around 12.30am on September 6.
Cwmbran Magistrates Court heard yesterday how he sat crouched on top of the park gates keeping watch for criminals when he was spotted by a police officer.
Believing he was carrying a Samurai sword, the officer called for backup and the police helicopter was scrambled and dog handler was called.
Baker, of Hendre Farm Drive, fled into the park and hid in bushes near the children’s play area.
He was arrested and led officers further into the park where he had hidden two rucksacks, one containing clothes and the other holding seven smoke grenades.
He told police in interview he was a "vigilante in a costume" and that he wanted to help people in trouble.
The barman, who works for Riley’s Snooker Club, said he belived he was the "eyes and ears" of the police on the streets and wanted to strike fear into criminals.
Baker pleaded guilty to having an offensive weapon in a public place at yesterday's hearing.
Louise Warren, defending, said whilst the offence took place in a public place, no one but the police officer involved saw him.
The court heard Baker was bullied for many years and struggled growing up in his neighbourhood.
He was attacked by a gang of youths whilst out with his sister a year ago, but police were unable to find the offenders.
Since then Baker has wanted to help the police to protect society, magistrates were told.
When asked what he would have done if he encountered a crime, Baker admitted he had not thought that far ahead.
A probation officer, who assessed him, said the comic book fan seemed to get confused between fantasy and reality and sometimes had trouble distinguishing between what was in comic books and what was real life.
Sentencing him to a 12-month supervision order, chair of the magistrates, Paul Lavin, said: "You may have thought he were helping but you caused a lot of trouble. Do not do this in future or else you’ll be in big trouble."
Baker must also complete 60 hours unpaid work and pay £85 court costs.
Comments(38)
arjwain
says...
4:13pm Sat 22 Sep 12
this poor guy needs a lot of professional help .
but im sure some one will benefit from his 60 hours unpaid work .
what a country .
gordelpus
says...
5:37pm Sat 22 Sep 12
b3talover
says...
6:58pm Sat 22 Sep 12
gordelpus wrote:Are you his clinical psychologist? If you are, what are you doing putting confidential patient data on a public forum? If you aren't, how are you able to readily diagnose an individual as being a paranoid schizophrenic and know that he is taking class A drugs from information gained in a newspaper article?
This guy either needs to reduce his use of class A drugs or get some treatment for paranoid schizophrenia. Good luck with either.
Clark Gwent
says...
7:03pm Sat 22 Sep 12
Dolieboy
says...
6:55am Sun 23 Sep 12
Dolieboy
says...
6:55am Sun 23 Sep 12
Rugby Warrior Paulo
says...
11:25am Sun 23 Sep 12
Sometimes this country makes me want to vomit.
digispamman
says...
12:12pm Sun 23 Sep 12
aevs74
says...
1:10pm Sun 23 Sep 12
Clearly the paper hasn't considered the possible problems this could cause.
The story is entertaining without us knowing private details, you may have made this young mans life even more difficult.
Natalie/Argus you are a disgrace to journalism. If I was Tanis I would take legal action.
evearthur
says...
3:42pm Sun 23 Sep 12
Howie'
says...
4:15pm Sun 23 Sep 12
evearthur wrote:Should we 'name, shame and humiliate everyone who is on benefits and has an xbox? also seems to me he has taken a low paid job so would now be off benefits. Whats your point?
Its not a shame he's been named and shamed! I know him and he deserves exactly what he got. He's just made himself an easier target for the bullies of ringland in if he wanted a better life he would have done something with it instead of spending years on benefits playing Xbox in his dads flat which they renamed "the batcave"
deepex
says...
4:29pm Sun 23 Sep 12
Katie Re-Registered
says...
5:52pm Sun 23 Sep 12
It sounds like his heart is in the right place. If someone could find a way to help him channel both his concern for the victims of crime and his love for comic books down a more realistic and productive path then he might be able to turn his life around into something a whole lot more positive. Hope he gets to that liberating stage one day.
PortORico
says...
6:07pm Sun 23 Sep 12
Howie' wrote:Well said Howie. Poor decision by Argus to portray this case in the way it has
I think that this guy needs help and support, not being sentenced in court and especially not having his name, picture and place of employment in the Argus. I bet he will now be vilified and mocked in equal measures on a daily basis.
chris227
says...
8:14pm Sun 23 Sep 12
ncfcr
says...
10:16am Mon 24 Sep 12
Are the magistrates for real? Dress up like a superhero with a stick in your hand again, and you'll be in big trouble?
I LOL'd my pants off at that part. What a waste of public finance.
ncfcr
says...
10:17am Mon 24 Sep 12
Are the magistrates for real? Dress up like a superhero with a stick in your hand again, and you'll be in big trouble?
I LOL'd my pants off at that part. What a waste of public finance.
barrie
says...
11:57am Mon 24 Sep 12
slushy
says...
2:57pm Mon 24 Sep 12
Rugby Warrior Paulo wrote:Poor guy. its this type of crime that gets to court and convicted . . . meanwhile what i class as real crime is mainly unsolved . . . i see him as an easy target for a statistic. he needs help and gets punished instead. the justice system is appauling.
Poor guy. Hope he gets the help he needs now that his identity has been made public. Giving him 60 hours of help would have been more beneficial.
Sometimes this country makes me want to vomit.
slushy
says...
2:59pm Mon 24 Sep 12
aevs74 wrote:Well said. . . its disgusting
I think it is an absolute disgrace that Natalie Crockett and the Argus team have printed this guys details for all to see.
Clearly the paper hasn't considered the possible problems this could cause.
The story is entertaining without us knowing private details, you may have made this young mans life even more difficult.
Natalie/Argus you are a disgrace to journalism. If I was Tanis I would take legal action.
Deletionista
says...
8:32pm Mon 24 Sep 12
You, the author of this article are a hack, and I hope you get yours for advertising both the man's place of residence and place of work. You deserve to be sued.
The Police, what a wonderful waste of your expensive resources, for what was essentially a person in 'fancy dress'. And also, a young man, trying to do right and stop crimes that you can't be bothered to attend or look
into, and you fine him etc.
The essence of this, I have to admit is brilliant and I give full Kudos to Tanis. However, it shouldn't be up to him to have to do this. If the police could do their jobs properly, there would be a lot less need for this kind of revolutionary act.
Deletionista
says...
8:36pm Mon 24 Sep 12
evearthur wrote:And I pity people that know you and your narrow minded opinions.
Its not a shame he's been named and shamed! I know him and he deserves exactly what he got. He's just made himself an easier target for the bullies of ringland in if he wanted a better life he would have done something with it instead of spending years on benefits playing Xbox in his dads flat which they renamed "the batcave"
By the way, I call my place a 'Fortress' doesn't mean I have a moat and archers on patrol.
The fact that he actually has a job, completely nullifies your comment!
Dee-Gee
says...
8:37pm Mon 24 Sep 12
evearthur wrote:I think, on balance, I'd rather see the bullies of Ringland in court than this poor chap.
Its not a shame he's been named and shamed! I know him and he deserves exactly what he got. He's just made himself an easier target for the bullies of ringland in if he wanted a better life he would have done something with it instead of spending years on benefits playing Xbox in his dads flat which they renamed "the batcave"
Dee-Gee
says...
8:45pm Mon 24 Sep 12
Deletionista
says...
8:48pm Mon 24 Sep 12
Pontylad
says...
2:11pm Tue 25 Sep 12
slushy wrote:Great Journalism, How this " NewsPaper " has survived is beyond me, If this isnt bullying by the Argus, i dont know what is. Already had problems and now you have made him an even bigger target.
aevs74 wrote:Well said. . . its disgusting
I think it is an absolute disgrace that Natalie Crockett and the Argus team have printed this guys details for all to see.
Clearly the paper hasn't considered the possible problems this could cause.
The story is entertaining without us knowing private details, you may have made this young mans life even more difficult.
Natalie/Argus you are a disgrace to journalism. If I was Tanis I would take legal action.
sc0ttrs
says...
3:23pm Tue 25 Sep 12
Beware of strong stimulants, Robin.
Dai the Milk
says...
5:25pm Tue 25 Sep 12
Where the hell are we going? Gutter journalism too.
real comment
says...
10:10pm Tue 25 Sep 12
segasuas
says...
12:37am Wed 26 Sep 12
SizzlerTrainers
says...
9:34am Wed 26 Sep 12
segasuas wrote:Spot on.
Leave the lad alone. What he did wasn't right and he knows that. If I was attacked and nothing done I would be out looking too!There are a group of free runners in ringland. they are the roof top runners. There are drug dealers going around openly in their flash cars in Newport, yet the police stop this guy! Time to back off and look at real criminals!
Chin Chiller
says...
4:45pm Wed 26 Sep 12
Serpent_terror
says...
8:23pm Wed 26 Sep 12
Deletionista wrote:Well said and I agree with you this guy was only trying to do something to help even if it was a bit strange the way he went about it still they should not have named him he needs help and to put it on here so people can take the **** nice one Argus
Things wrong with this:
You, the author of this article are a hack, and I hope you get yours for advertising both the man's place of residence and place of work. You deserve to be sued.
The Police, what a wonderful waste of your expensive resources, for what was essentially a person in 'fancy dress'. And also, a young man, trying to do right and stop crimes that you can't be bothered to attend or look
into, and you fine him etc.
The essence of this, I have to admit is brilliant and I give full Kudos to Tanis. However, it shouldn't be up to him to have to do this. If the police could do their jobs properly, there would be a lot less need for this kind of revolutionary act.
LouieH
says...
12:26pm Thu 27 Sep 12
And for the police officer who thought that a wooden sword was a samurai sword and scrambled a freakin helicopter I have one answer... I think that the police are SUCH wimps that any excuse to NOT catch hardened criminals is a good excuse... The amount of times I called the police from the (unnamed) bar that I worked in in Newport to say
"hi its Louie from the 'pub' again there's another massive fight here"
they would always respond the same way...
"how many people involved sir?"
- "all of them"
"ok we will see what we can do thanks byeee"
And NOBODY would turn up WHAT SO EVER ... because they were probably up the park playing catch me catch me with this harmless guy.
"hey Bobby, if we chase this guy we wont have to go find the real hard guys!" - "good Idea Bob!"
ngtarr
says...
12:59pm Thu 27 Sep 12
Flash heart
says...
7:23pm Thu 27 Sep 12
Clark Gwent
says...
9:59am Sat 29 Sep 12
Howie' says...
2:16pm Sat 22 Sep 12