Wickham Bishops sex offender Michael Baker is jailed

Michael Baker, 34, was found to have taken 44 pictures and videos of himself and a child between 2013 and 2014 after a raid on his home in April 2017.

Peter Clark, mitigating, told Chelmsford Crown Court that Baker believed the child was 17 and the content was taken during his university days, but this was disputed by a judge.

During the same raid at his address in Roots Lane, Wickham Bishops, a further three Category A indecent images of children were found, as well as two of Category B and 17 pictures and 29 videos at Category C.

Baker was jailed for three years and four months on Thursday after admitting four counts of making indecent images of children.

Wayne Cleaver, prosecuting, said Baker’s sickening collection was uncovered after police officers tracked his internet use via an IP address.

When they arrived at his house they seized computer equipment, a storage tower, hard drive and a laptop on which the images were found.

It became apparent 44 images and pictures were of Baker and a child aged between 13 and 15, while other material had been downloaded from the internet between May 2016 and April 2017.

Mr Clark said the images go back “considerably” to Baker’s late teenage years and early 20s, and there was a “clear immaturity” displayed.

He cited mental health issues faced by the defendant, for which he is seeking professional help, but conceded a pre-sentence report said Baker is a “high risk” to children.

Judge Mary Loram QC said “mental health issues only take you so far” when sentencing Baker.

“At the time you were a lot younger and there is, of course, a profound difference between a young man and someone in his thirties,” said Judge Loram.

“But in the relationship with the girl you filmed having sex with you, you were a grown up and she was a child.”

Baker was made the subject of sexual harm prevention order for ten years and ordered to sign the Sex Offender Register indefinitely.