Guards deny Baker video of son (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Guards deny Baker video of son

JAPANESE prison guards refused to let convicted drug smuggler Nick Baker see a video of the his three-year-old son, according to the former Cirencester chef's mother.

Iris Baker says the 33-year-old has never heard young George speak and was anxious to see the specially-made footage.

But, when Mrs Baker visited her son last month, in the tough Tokyo prison where he is being held, they refused to let her take the video camera in.

Despite the setback and the 'frustrating' news that Nick's latest appeal hearing has been adjourned again, Mrs Baker, who lives in Oaksey, says she will continue campaigning on her son's behalf.

She said: "Nick has never even heard George speak - it was heartbreaking.

"Anyone who won't let a father see a video of his son playing football and saying 'hello daddy' is cruel - it's inhumane.

"What sort of message is a three-year-old going to send to his father?"

Nick, aged 33, was sentenced to 14 years in prison and fined £25,000 after he was caught with a suitcase containing £1.4 million worth of drugs at Tokyo's Narita Airport two years ago.

The former Cirencester sandwich shop owner has always maintained that travelling companion James Prunier engineered it so they would carry each other's cases through customs.

Prunier was later arrested and charged with similar drug trafficking offences in Belgium but this was never considered during Nick's original trial.

In response, Nick's supporters, led by Mrs Baker, have been campaigning for a fair trial.

But, on Tuesday, a Japanese court saw the hearing adjourned again and a new date has been set for December 7.

Mrs Baker, who lives in Oaksey, said: "My worst fear is that I'm going to die before I get him out of there.

"But I won't give up. I do get tired and despondent but I am determined.

'I believe one hundred percent in Nick and I believe one million percent that he hasn't had a fair trial and he hasn't had his human rights."

* James Prunier was found dead on railway tracks near Gloucester Station two months ago and so never stood trial in Belgium.

Police say they aren't treating his death as suspicious.