MICHAEL BAKER FROM CARLISLE ESCAPES PRISON AFTER CHILD PORNOGRAPHY HAUL REVEALED

In a significant case that has shocked the community of Carlisle, Michael Baker, a resident of Etterby Street, was brought before the courts following the discovery of an extensive collection of illegal child pornography. The investigation uncovered a staggering number of images and videos stored on his personal computers, revealing the depth of his involvement in this disturbing activity.

Detectives found approximately 15,000 illicit images on two computers located within Baker’s home in Carlisle. These images were classified as some of the most severe forms of child exploitation material, with a small subset, specifically five images, categorized at the highest level of severity, level five. These particular images depicted prepubescent children engaged in acts of sadism, highlighting the grotesque nature of the material Baker possessed.

Further examination of Baker’s devices revealed an even more alarming total of around 180,000 images and 1,200 movies, a vast collection that underscored his role as a significant collector of such illegal content. The court was informed that a large proportion of these images were classified as illegal pornographic depictions of children, emphasizing the severity of his crimes.

Michael Baker, aged 47 and a father, pleaded guilty to 25 charges related to the creation and possession of indecent images of children. His actions led to a description from law enforcement officers as being among the most extreme cases they had encountered in recent years. The detectives described him as an individual who had deliberately stored and accumulated these images, despite claims he had been interested in decoding or cracking codes to access the material.

During the sentencing at Carlisle Crown Court, Judge Barbara Forrester addressed Baker’s conduct and the dishonesty he exhibited throughout the investigation. She noted that Baker had been untruthful with police, his family, and possibly himself about the extent of his activities. The judge expressed her concern that a lengthy prison sentence would not allow sufficient time for Baker to undergo the necessary rehabilitation, which is why she opted for a suspended sentence.

Judge Forrester emphasized that Baker initially claimed the images depicted adults or looked like teenagers aged 15 or 16. However, the photographs clearly showed children far younger, estimated to be between 10 and 13 years old. The judge pointed out that Baker’s interest in the images was evident, and his actions contributed to creating a market that perpetuates the exploitation of children.

As part of his sentence, Baker received a 52-week prison term suspended for two years. He is also required to sign the sex offenders’ register for a decade, participate in a sex offenders’ treatment program, and adhere to a two-year supervision order. Additionally, he is subject to a sex offenders’ prevention order, which prohibits him from contacting children without parental consent and from owning a computer with internet access unless safeguarded by appropriate software. Baker has been disqualified from working with children and ordered to pay £1,800 in court costs.

Prior to sentencing, it was disclosed that Baker’s wife was aware of the seriousness of his offending. The Probation Service had recommended a suspended sentence combined with a treatment order, aiming to prevent future reoffending. Detective Superintendent Andy Slattery commented on the case, stating, “Due to the levels of the images, Judge Forrester has sentenced him accordingly. He will be monitored as a sex offender very closely for 10 years. The detection and prosecution of those involved in the creation, sharing, and collection of child abuse images is of utmost importance to us. We will continue to actively target all those suspected of participating in this heinous trade.”