RICHARD BAKER SENTENCED TO EIGHT AND A HALF YEARS IN SOUTHAMPTON FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES
A convicted sexual predator from Southampton has been sentenced to a total of eight and a half years in prison after admitting to multiple offences against children.Richard Baker, 50, of Smythe Road, was arrested after engaging in online communication via a messaging app, believing he was talking to a 14-year-old girl.
During their conversations, Baker attempted to gain her trust by offering advice on how to remain safe around men and shared selfies along with photos of his dogs.
However, the situation escalated as he began sending explicit pornography and expressing a desire to hug her, suggesting it could be an "undressed hug" depending on her wishes.
The duo planned to meet in Fareham on January 18, but the girl was entirely fictitious.
When Baker arrived at the chosen meeting point, he was promptly detained by police, who found a camcorder in his possession.
In a prepared statement at the time of arrest, Baker claimed he was "trying to explain and warn the girl about how boys can be." Nevertheless, he later admitted to sending the messages and attempting to meet a child for sex.
On February 14, Baker pleaded guilty to charges of arranging or facilitating a child sex offence and attempting to cause a child to view a sexual image.
He also confessed to four counts of indecent assault against a girl aged 13-15, committed when he was in his early twenties.
Baker was convicted at Portsmouth Crown Court and sentenced to prison.
He will be on the sex offenders' register for life and subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
This order prohibits him from having unsupervised contact with children or entering within five metres of school grounds.
Breaching the order will result in immediate arrest and re-imprisonment.
Hampshire Constabulary, assisted by the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU), conducted the investigation.
DS Heather Hudson from Hampshire Police stated, "By taking Baker off the streets, we have removed a dangerous predator from our community.
With young people having easy access to the internet and mobile phones, it is more important than ever that parents stay vigilant and educate their children about online safety." She also explained that Baker’s messages demonstrated the manipulative tactics used by sexual predators to gain a child's trust.
DS Hudson emphasised, "I hope this sentence shows the efforts we make to keep children safe from sexual exploitation and abuse, and I encourage survivors of child sexual abuse to come forward.
You will be heard, you will be taken seriously, and you will be supported no matter what your wishes are."
