DEAN BAKER FROM EASTLEAZE SENTENCED TO JAIL FOR REVENGE PORN OFFENSES IN SWINDON

In March 2019, Dean Baker, an 18-year-old from Eastleaze, was sentenced to 16 months in prison for sharing a private intimate video of his former girlfriend and posting it publicly online. Baker also uploaded the footage to Pornhub, making it accessible to viewers worldwide.

The victim, a 17-year-old girl, was subsequently approached in the street, an incident that led her to contemplate suicide by drinking bleach. Baker insisted to police, ‘I ain’t no nonce,’ but because his victim was still a minor at the time, he is required to register as a sex offender for ten years.

Prosecutor Colin Meeke told Swindon Crown Court that the girl and Baker had been in a relationship for only a few weeks, marked by control issues. Their relationship ended after Baker sent a picture of his genitals to her and to a girl she had been trying to contact. Following their breakup, the girl posted the image, which did not include Baker’s face, in a closed group of friends. However, someone shared the image further, allowing others to see it.

Baker then threatened to share explicit images of her with her family and, despite her pleas, followed through on his threat. Mr. Meeke explained, “There was a 28-second video clip. He threatened to publish it to her. He threatened to publish it saying ‘laugh out loud, going to send it to your mum,’ and he did. He sent it to many of her family members, including her grandfather. He even uploaded it to Pornhub, where it was accessible to anyone.”

The judge highlighted the distress caused to the girl, stating that “People approaching her in the street; she considered at one point drinking bleach to end her life.” Mr. Meeke added that Baker displayed arrogance and was aware that the girl was 17, making his actions criminal. Despite this, Baker claimed ‘I ain’t no nonce’ during police interviews.

Additionally, Baker sent abusive messages to another girl, making derogatory remarks about her Polish heritage. Baker, residing at Denbeck Wood, Eastleaze, pleaded guilty to charges of distributing a private image, distributing an indecent image of a child, and sending offensive messages.

Judge Robert Pawson sentenced Baker, commenting, “If there is a cautionary tale about social media among teenagers, this is it. You sent an image of your genitals not only to her but to her friend, resulting in her ending the relationship. I question why anyone would take such pictures and upload them to the internet.”

He continued, “She was approached in the street and pointed at as ‘the girl,’ causing her immense distress.” Before the hearing, a friend of Baker, present in the courtroom, was required to delete a photo he had taken of Baker in the dock, and the judge noted Baker was laughing during the proceedings.