JAILED: Former Barnard Castle baker given five years and four months prison

A FORMER baker has been jailed for five years and four months for grooming a 15-year-old girl.

David Lionel Baker, formerly of Startforth, was handed down the sentence at Newcastle Crown Court this morning (April 25).

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The 43-year-old began speaking to the victim on Facebook and groomed her after gaining her trust. 

A sentencing hearing earlier this month heard how Baker forced the girl into a sex act at a Newcastle hotel. 

Baker was made to sign the sex offenders’ register for life and will also be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for life. 

His sentence will have an extended licensing period of four years. 

Full report in next week’s paper.