RUSSELL BAKER FROM TAVISTOCK AND TORPOINT SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES AND INDECENT IMAGES

In a series of disturbing incidents spanning several years, Russell Baker, a man with connections to Tavistock and Torpoint, has been convicted and sentenced for heinous crimes involving child exploitation and possession of indecent images. Baker, aged 41 at the time of sentencing, was found guilty of multiple offenses related to his predatory behavior online, which included soliciting explicit images from minors and possessing a significant collection of child abuse images.

The court heard that Baker was one of three men who engaged in sexual communication with a young girl aged just ten years old. The girl had accessed her mother’s computer and, through a messaging app called Tango, inadvertently accepted a friend request from Baker. Soon after, Baker made explicit requests for her to send him an indecent photograph. The mother of the child later expressed her distress, stating, “I feel my daughter has been robbed of her innocence,” and revealed her own struggles with mental health, including suicidal feelings and psychiatric treatment.

This incident was part of a broader pattern of Baker’s offending behavior. Police investigations uncovered that Baker had also been in contact with another young girl, aged eight, and had made similar indecent proposals. The authorities found evidence of messages on Baker’s devices where he explicitly asked the girl to pose in an indecent manner on webcam and to send the images. These messages demonstrated a calculated effort to exploit vulnerable children.

Baker’s criminal record was already marked by previous convictions for possessing indecent images of children. In 2013, he was subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO), which prohibited him from contacting anyone under the age of 18. Despite this, he breached the order multiple times, including failing to disclose his address to police, moving abroad to South Africa without permission, and failing to comply with his reporting duties under the Sex Offender Register.

In February 2015, Baker was convicted of possessing 141 indecent images of children, including 54 in the most severe category. He also admitted to five breaches of his SOPO, which further demonstrated his ongoing disregard for legal restrictions designed to protect minors. The court was informed that Baker had also made two indecent images in 2013 and 2014, and his possession of such material was part of a disturbing pattern of behavior.

During sentencing, Judge Ian Lawrie emphasized the severity of Baker’s actions, stating that his viewing and distribution of indecent images fuel a “vile trade” that causes immeasurable harm to children. Baker was sentenced to an extended four-year term, which means he will not be eligible for release at the halfway point. Instead, he must serve at least two-thirds of his sentence and will only be released if a parole board determines he no longer poses a danger to the public.

Furthermore, Baker, who has no fixed address, was found to have failed to inform authorities of his whereabouts and had traveled to South Africa without notifying police, breaching multiple court orders. His history of violations underscores the ongoing risk he poses.

In a related case, Baker’s previous offenses were discussed, including a 2008 incident when police and probation officers visited his home in Torpoint. During the visit, Baker appeared nervous, and authorities discovered two computers containing 257 indecent images of children, including 31 in the most serious category. Despite attempts to destroy evidence by fire, the images were recovered. Baker, then 33, admitted to the possession of these images and was sentenced to nine months in prison, along with a 10-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order that restricts his contact with minors and employment involving children.

Throughout these proceedings, the court highlighted the danger posed by individuals like Baker, who continue to exploit and harm children despite prior convictions and court orders. His case underscores the importance of vigilant law enforcement and judicial measures to protect vulnerable minors from predatory behavior.