A 56-YEAR-OLD man has been jailed after being convicted of sexual offences involving a young girl in Sturminster Newton.

Phyllippe Baker, from London, was jailed for six years at Bournemouth Crown Court on Wednesday, November 30, with an extended licence period for a further three years.

Baker was found guilty of sexual communication with a child, meeting a child following sexual grooming and causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, on November 2.

The offences occurred between August 2020 and April 2021.

Dorset Police started investigating after officers were made aware of messages of a sexual nature on the phone of a girl of 12.

The victim was visited by police and it was established that a man had visited her a few days earlier and she was provided with a phone by him.

The victim provided details of his car registration number, which identified the vehicle was linked to Baker.

Baker was subsequently arrested and a notebook belonging to the defendant was seized, as well as digital devices. The notebook contained personal details of the victim.

Detective Constable Mandy Lawrence, of the Child Abuse Investigation Team (CAIT), said: “The victim in this case did not provide an account of what happened. However, through investigative work, we were able to identify Baker and bring him before the courts.

“Baker knowingly communicated with his victim in a sexual nature, despite her young age.

“Dorset Police takes sexual offending against children extremely seriously and we will do all we can to identify those responsible.”

If you have been a victim of rape or sexual assault, and you want to report directly to the police, call 101 and ask to be put in contact with a specially-trained police officer. Always dial 999 in an emergency. Alternatively, you can contact The Shores Sexual Assault Referral Centre on 0800 970 9954.