LANCE BAYNES SENTENCED IN WINCHESTER COURT FOR PLANNING CHILD RAPE IN HAMPSHIRE

A man named Lance Baynes, who intended to assault an eight-year-old girl, traveled across the country equipped with sex toys and restraints. Baynes, aged 48 and previously residing on Cedar Close in Walsall, was found with various illicit items at a service station in Hampshire, including restraints, sex toys, and lubricant.

He had arranged to meet another man at Sutton Scotney Services with the intent to rape the young girl. However, on August 21 of this year, police arrested him during a sting operation. During a search of his electronic devices, authorities discovered 1,430 indecent and extreme images.

Further investigation revealed that Baynes had been managing an online account that shared child abuse images with other paedophiles. He also had been communicating sexually with a 13-year-old girl, as revealed in court.

Baynes pleaded guilty to ten charges, including:

• Arranging or facilitating the rape of a child under 13

• Three counts of making indecent images of children

• Possession of extreme indecent images

• Three counts of distributing indecent images

• Intentionally encouraging an offender to commit an indictable offence.

He was sentenced to eight years in prison and will be on license for four years upon release.

DC Steve Hill from Hampshire Constabulary's ICAT commented: “Prior to his arrest, Lance Baynes had been planning to commit an atrocious offence against what he believed was an 8-year-old girl. He is a dangerous offender, and I hope his sentencing reassures the public.”

He added, “This was a complex and difficult investigation, and I would like to thank our colleagues at SEROCU for their assistance in bringing this case to justice.”

The police emphasize their commitment to addressing sexual offences and protecting vulnerable individuals, pledging to pursue and prosecute offenders aggressively.