Richard Baker

Richard Baker, 50, from Smythe Road in Southampton, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for a series of child sex offences, including an attempt to groom what he believed was a 14-year-old girl online. The case, investigated by Hampshire Constabulary with support from the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU), highlights the dangers of online predation.

The recent offence occurred between 4 January and 18 January 2022. Baker initiated contact on a messaging app, posing as a concerned parental figure. He began by offering 'advice' on staying safe around men, sharing selfies and photos of his dogs to build trust. His messages soon escalated, sending pornographic images sourced online and proposing a sexual meet-up. He explicitly stated his desire for an 'undressed hug' and arranged to meet the girl in Fareham on 18 January 2022, instructing her to keep his name and age secret to avoid trouble. Unbeknownst to Baker, the 'girl' was part of a police sting operation. Upon arrival at the meeting location, officers arrested him; he was found in possession of a camcorder.

In his initial prepared statement, Baker claimed he was merely warning the girl about predatory boys. However, he later confessed to sending the explicit messages and intending to meet a child for sex. On 14 February 2022, Baker pleaded guilty at Portsmouth Crown Court to arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence and attempting to cause a child to watch an image of sexual activity.

The court also addressed historical offences from Baker's early twenties, when he committed four counts of indecent assault against a girl aged 13 to 15. These assaults were detailed during the sentencing hearing on 8 April 2022, where Baker received a total of eight years' imprisonment. In addition to the custodial sentence, he was placed on the sex offenders register for life and subjected to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order. This order prohibits unsupervised contact with children under 18 and bars him from approaching within 5 metres of school grounds. Breaching the order would result in immediate arrest and return to prison.

Earlier, in December 2021, Baker had been issued a restraining order against two teenage girls, underscoring a pattern of concerning behaviour. Detective Sergeant Heather Hudson, the lead officer from Hampshire Constabulary, described Baker as a 'dangerous predator' whose tactics—such as posing as a role model and using pets to ingratiate himself—demonstrate common grooming strategies. The case was prosecuted at Portsmouth Crown Court, with the full investigation revealing Baker's intent to sexually exploit children both online and historically.