Jimmy James Baxter jailed for two years for catfishing and grooming multiple victims online

A 33-year-old postman may be out of jail in only a year despite grooming and catfishing multiple children online, including a 13-year-old girl in state care.

A catfishing predator was exposed after the Department of Child Protection realised a child in their care was being groomed, a court heard.

Postman Jimmy James Baxter, 33, may be out of jail after only a year for his “deceptive and persistent” conduct that involved several young victims.

The District Court heard police received a report from DCP in July 2020 in relation to a 13-year-old girl in their care communicating with Baxter.

Police found Instagram conversations between the girl and Baxter, who catfished her by posing as someone called ‘Max’ and using a photo of a young male he found on the internet.

The court heard Baxter encouraged the victim to have sex with his older brother and told her to add him on Snapchat.

Baxter also purported to be the older brother ‘Jimbo’ and discussed his penis size with her and whether she would give him oral sex.

Baxter also requested sexual acts from six other girls – including four 14-year-olds and two 13-year-olds – between July and October 2020.

“Your offending is accepted to have been persistent, prurient, predatory and deceptive in nature,” Judge Michael Durrant said during sentencing.

Baxter, of Wasleys, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of communicating to make a child amenable to sexual activity.

The court heard Baxter, who had worked as a postman for 10 years, started talking to random people online when he was “blind drunk” and it got out of hand.

The court heard Baxter was autistic and had an intellectual impairment, with a low IQ.

Jimmy James Baxter pleaded guilty to grooming multiple children online. Picture: Istock

A Department for Child Protection spokesperson told the Advertiser the government was funding research to create a better understanding of the causes, effects, prevention and treatment of harmful sexual behaviour.

“We will continue to work closely with SA Police to protect children in care who are being targeted by predatory adults,” the spokesperson said.

To further protect children the Department has introduced Australia’s best practice model Mackillop Institute’s Power to Kids Program.

“(This) aims to improve children and young people’s awareness of respectful relationships, grooming, sexual development and sexual health, recognising these are critical to building protective factors against sexual exploitation,” the spokesperson said.

Judge Durrant said he accepted the assessment that Baxter did not suffer from a pedophilic disorder and he was at low risk of reoffending if he continued to abstain from alcohol.

He sentenced Baxter to two years jail, with a non-parole period of one year.

Those young people were exposed to and were propositioned in respect of concepts and acts which were abhorrent,” Judge Durrant said.

“That was done for the sole purpose of your sexual gratification.”