PAUL BAKER FROM NOTTINGHAM SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGE OFFENSES
Paul Baker, a 30-year-old from Nottingham, was sentenced after authorities uncovered over 5,000 images related to child abuse, including explicit content involving boys, which he downloaded over three years.He maintained that his viewing was separate from any real-world abuse, but a judge pointed out that he contributed to the creation of such images and thus played a part in the exploitation of children.
Baker was handed a three-year probation period, which required him to undertake a course and register as a sex offender.
In August 2021, Baker appeared before the court once more.
Police found approximately 1,000 indecent images of young boys stored on disks hidden in his home and car.
Additionally, officers noted that a crucial hidden hard drive was missing from a laptop seized the day prior.
These searches followed Baker’s arrest when police received intelligence that he had violated a court order by downloading the images online.
An investigation into the missing drive revealed the presence of specialized software aimed at deleting browsing history, which was a direct violation of a sexual harm prevention order previously issued by the courts.
Baker, formerly residing on Newstead Drive in West Bridgford, pleaded guilty to breaching his court-ordered restrictions, and to two counts each of possessing and making indecent images of children, as well as distributing such images.
He appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday, July 29, and was sentenced to two years and four months behind bars.
Baker had earlier been convicted in 2012 for sexually assaulting a boy under age 13, and in 2017, for creating child sexual abuse images and breaching a long-standing court order restricting his conduct.
Nottinghamshire Police’s Nicola Shaw commented that Baker is a persistent offender who showed reckless disregard for court rulings meant to safeguard vulnerable individuals.
She emphasized that these orders serve a vital purpose and that the enforcement measures are necessary.
Shaw added that Baker’s efforts to conceal his activities through software and by removing evidence indicate his intent to evade detection, and she assured that breaches will be met with strict punishment.
