A man who used Tinder to target a mother and sexually abuse her infant has been sentenced to life in prison.
Christopher Phillips actively sought out a baby when he joined the dating app to connect with new mothers. After identifying a vulnerable mother holding her newborn in a photo, the 34-year-old manipulated the situation to gain unrestricted access to the child, according to court testimonies.
Phillips carried out a series of assaults on the baby, referred to as Baby C, causing injuries described as severe as being struck by a vehicle. Judge Paul Thomas KC, who handed down the life sentence, described the case as the most disturbing in his four-decade career.
In a statement read to the court, the baby’s grandmother expressed profound horror and devastation experienced by the family.
Details revealed in Swansea Crown Court disclosed that authorities were alerted to the infant’s suspicious injuries when he was taken to Glangwili Hospital in January 2021.
Examinations uncovered fractures to the baby’s ankle, wrist, ribs, skull, and a brain hemorrhage.
Phillips was convicted of sexual assault and causing grievous bodily harm to the infant. He was acquitted of some charges but ultimately sentenced to a minimum of 16 years and 25 days in prison.
The mother of the baby was acquitted of charges related to neglect and harm. Phillips, from Burton, Pembs, was sentenced to life imprisonment.