A man who sought to sexually abuse an infant by targeting the child’s mother on the dating app Tinder has been sentenced to life in prison. Christopher Phillips, 34, actively searched for a baby on the platform and identified the vulnerable mother after seeing a photo of her with her newborn. He manipulated the situation to gain unrestricted access to the child, causing severe harm to the baby boy, known as Baby C.
The court heard that Phillips inflicted injuries on the infant comparable to being struck by a vehicle. Judge Paul Thomas KC, describing it as the most distressing case in his four-decade career, sentenced Phillips to life imprisonment. The baby’s grandmother expressed profound shock and devastation on behalf of the family in a statement read in court.
In January 2021, authorities were alerted to the infant’s injuries, suspected to be non-accidental, when he was taken to Glangwili Hospital. Medical examination revealed multiple fractures, including an ankle, wrist, ribs, skull, and brain bleed.
Phillips was convicted of sexual assault and causing grievous bodily harm to the infant. He was acquitted of some charges but sentenced to a minimum of 16 years and 25 days in prison. The baby’s mother was cleared of negligence and harm charges. Phillips, from Burton, Pembrokeshire, received a life sentence for his crimes.