Registered Sex Offender Sentenced for Online Child Sex Abuse Attempt

Steven Baker, 57, has been sentenced to 22 months in prison after being found guilty of engaging in sexual communications with a child. Baker, who is a registered sex offender and well known to police, believed he was communicating with a 12-year-old girl when he was actually sending sexually explicit text messages to an undercover police officer.

The incident occurred in June when Baker engaged in a lengthy conversation with the decoy officer. Following this, officers from South Wales Police and the regional organised crime unit Tarian arrested Baker at his home in Ely, Cardiff.

Baker pleaded guilty to the charge at Cardiff Crown Court and was sentenced to 22 months in prison, with half of the sentence to be served behind bars.

Detective Inspector Mathew Davies of Tarian said: "Baker's case shows we are monitoring offenders to remove the most dangerous individuals from society who continue to offend. There is considerable work being undertaken to identify those offenders looking to exploit children online and preying on the most vulnerable in society."

DI Davies continued, "It is another notable result for Tarian and South Wales Police to identify this offender attempting to target vulnerable children. By working closely with South Wales Police we were able promptly to detain Baker to prevent him from committing further offences. It is paramount that we safeguard children and the most vulnerable within our communities and working closely with all southern Wales forces we will continue to target those offenders looking to exploit children."