County Court: Sexually explicit chat lands Echuca’s Michael Baker in trouble

A “persistent” pervert harassed teens for nude pics online and engaged in sexually explicit conversations, until he got a nasty surprise.

An Echuca man has been busted asking teens to send him nude images online (generic image)

A “persistent” Echuca man bombarded children on social media with requests for nude pictures and engaged in sexually explicit conversations with them, a court has heard.

Michael Henry Baker, 40, appeared in the County Court on Thursday after earlier pleading guilty to 10 charges, where he was sentenced to three years’ jail, with a minimum of nine months

Over a period of six months between March and September last year, Baker spoke with multiple people who were, or purported to be, children under the age of 16 via Facebook messenger and Snapchat applications.

One of those persons was a Victoria Police detective who used an assumed online identity and purported to be a 14-year-old female named Charlotte.

The move preceded information police received about Baker’s behaviour from an anonymous US resident who also engaged with him, purportedly as a 14-year-old from Cambodia.

Michael Henry Baker faced the County Court and copped a jail sentence for his offending

Those Baker chatted with and requested nude and semi nude photos of online told him they were under the age of 16.

In October 2022, detectives from the Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team executed a search warrant at Baker’s residence and seized several electronic devices.

“With some of the recipients, you were persistent in your request for material. This was so despite refusal or no response from them,” Judge Claire Quin said during sentencing.

She said the level of graphic sexual and explicit conversation varied, with progression with respect to some of the recipients, to more depraved content.

The judge said while social media was a popular means for children and young people to communicate with peers and friends, it was ripe for exploitation by persons unknown to them.

“The existence of cyberspace provides a place for adults to easily deceive children and young people, as to their true identity.

“There’s significant public interest in protecting children from those who take advantage of their naivety, immaturity and vulnerability,” Judge Quin said.

A psychological assessment on Baker, born and raised in Echuca, revealed his offending occurred in the context of his limited social connections and difficulties in him coping with his relationship breakdown a number of years ago.

He was assessed as at a moderate risk of reoffending.

His future prospects of rehabilitation were good but Judge Quin said it depended on him addressing his social isolation and mental health issues.

She accepted Baker showed remorse as he saved community the cost of a trial by pleading guilty, co-operated with police, gave them access to his electronic devices, and made full admissions.