One Nation Candidate Faces Arrest Warrant in UK Amid Election Campaign
South Australian One Nation candidate Aoi Baxter is facing a significant challenge as an arrest warrant has been issued in the United Kingdom for failing to appear in court related to an alleged sexual offence. The revelation, confirmed by UK authorities, casts a shadow over his campaign for the Adelaide seat.
Allegations and UK Court Confirmation
According to a representative from the crime division of His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service, Mr. Baxter, also known as Trent Baxter, was charged with sexually touching a woman without her consent. The court confirmed the existence of a warrant for his arrest without bail due to his failure to attend court proceedings. Authorities are requesting information regarding his current location.
One Nation’s Response and Internal Review
One Nation initially expressed surprise upon being informed of the allegations by the ABC. The party stated that, to their understanding, Mr. Baxter may have a warrant in the UK for failing to appear in court, a fact that was not disclosed to them. One Nation has pledged to fully cooperate with law enforcement in the matter. A spokesperson noted that a nationwide police check was conducted on all candidates, including Mr. Baxter, but revealed no issues. The party is now seeking further information, including whether other parties were aware of these allegations and chose not to disclose them.
Name Change and Business Connections
Australian business records indicate that Mr. Baxter legally changed his name from Trent Baxter to Aoi Scott Baxter in July 2025. He has been involved in several businesses in Australia since 2014, including Aoi Creative, and also has companies registered in the UK – The Pressery Limited and Parcel Agency. UK corporate records list his birthdate as December 1994, and The Pressery is registered to a pub in Milnthorpe, north-west England.
Previous Employment and Local Reports
The manager of the pub in Milnthorpe confirmed that Mr. Baxter is Australian and was a former employee. The manager was also aware of the sexual offence charge, stating it occurred at a different venue. A local news outlet, the Westmorland Gazette, reported on the alleged assault in September 2023, stating that Trent Baxter, 28, was accused of intentionally touching a woman aged 16 or over without her consent. He was due to appear in court on September 25th.
Discrepancies in Volunteer Work and Address Verification
Mr. Baxter’s now-deleted candidate profile on the One Nation website highlighted his commitment to community service, mentioning volunteer work with Rotary, Disaster Relief Australia, and Movember. But, a Rotary spokesperson confirmed a brief membership under the name Trent Baxter in 2013, but no current membership under Aoi Baxter. Records for the address listed for one of his businesses in Sussex Inlet, NSW, revealed the owner denied any knowledge of Mr. Baxter or his businesses.
Initial Reactions and Media Handling
One Nation media representative Richard Henderson initially questioned the nature of the charges, asking if they were a “charge but not conviction.” When informed of the arrest warrant, he suggested it might be a case of mistaken identity. He later stated Mr. Baxter would not be providing interviews regarding the matter.
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