Cameron Baker has been sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 21 years, for the brutal murder of Brading man Tommy Barton. It was during the early hours of 28th May this year that 28-year-old Baker armed himself with a kettle and threw boiling hot water over 30-year-old Thomas Barton, before then plunging a large kitchen knife into his chest, twice. The knife punctured Tommy’s lung but the fatal blow was a stab wound to the heart. Tommy, a father and well-known cricketer, staggered out into the street and collapsed. He lay dying in front of his elderly father who had driven him to Park Road in Ryde that morning. Baker, formerly of Leed Street in Sandown, was charged with murder but claimed self-defence. However, the Crown Prosecution Service successfully argued the case and after a 3-week trial, Baker was found guilty of murder by a jury last Thursday. 
Appearing at Winchester Crown Court for sentencing this morning (Tuesday), Baker – now sporting a shaven head – sat in Court 1 wearing a white shirt and a tie as the Honourable Mrs Justice Cockerill DBE summarised the case. Tommy’s mother, Kate, read out her victim impact statement live to the court ahead of the sentence being passed. After hearing a number of moving statements, Justice Cockerill said:
“I have heard and read the extremely moving victim impact statements from the family and friends. It is clear the person they knew and loved was a warm, loving and vibrant person. He was kind, generous, funny, loud and the live and soul of all occasions. He loved sport and cooked a great roast, lighting up their lives. “It is plain to me that for all of Tommy’s family their lives won’t be the same again. It is a loss beyond words”.
Addressing Baker now stood in the dock, Justice Cockerill said:
“You said you acted in self defence. The jury rejected your events and has concluded you were not acting in reasonable self defence but you intended to cause him serious harm. “You decided to pick up the largest knife in the block and a kettle of boiling water. You decided to use them as weapons. You took off the kettle kid, armed yourself with the knife and paced about, psyching yourself up. “Tommy launched himself out the car. Within seconds you had deposited the kettle on Tommy and stbabed him a number of times, twice severely and at least once more. You killed Tommy Barton. “There is only 1 sentence that the law allows me to pass and that is a mandatory life sentence.
Justice Cockerill proceeded to hand down a life sentence to Cameron Wayne Baker who will serve a minimum term of 21 years behind bars before he can be considered for parole. 
A short letter written by Baker, addressed to the judge, was considered in sentencing. However, Justice Cockerill explained:
“I do not accept you have showed remorse. You have showed some remorse, particularly to Tommy’s daughter, in a letter to me, but a great deal of remorse seems to be directed at yourself. You have been sorry for yourself for the position you find yourself in”.
It’s not the first time that Baker has been in front of the courts. In August 2021, he was handed an 18-month prison sentence for affray and possession of an offensive weapon when he was involved in brandishing a harpoon and a chainsaw. The court heard today that Baker has a ‘shamefully long criminal record’ with a habit of making impulsive, poor decisions and being confrontational when drunk. Cameron Baker will not be eligible for release until at least 1st June 2044, taking into account 194 days he has spent on remand. 
Detective Chief Inspector Andrea Douglas, senior investigating officer for the case, has today said:
“This tragic incident paints the very stark reality of the immeasurable pain and suffering caused by knives and weapons. “Tommy Barton was a young man who was killed in a senseless and despicable act of violence. “My thoughts remain with Tommy’s family and all who knew him. “This investigation involved a large number of police officers and staff who worked tirelessly alongside the prosecution team to seek justice for Tommy and his family. “Cameron Baker will now spend a considerable length of time in prison as a result of his actions that night. “Knives completely destroy lives, and we urge communities to keep reporting information to us around knife crime, and those who carry weapons.”
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