Depraved paedophile who discussed raping baby jailed for 13 years

DEPRAVED and “dangerous” paedophile who called babies tthe “ultimate sex toys” and discussed raping a baby has been jailed for 13 and a half years.

- DAVID POWELL

Stephen Harris, 49, made the comments in online messages, but he was communicating with an undercover police officer and was arrested.

Harris, of Church Street, Flint, admitted a total of 11 offences.

Branding Harris a dangerous offender, a judge at Mold Crown Court yesterday gave him an 18-and-a-half-year sentence, consisting of up to 13 and a half years in custody, with five years on licence.

He will serve at least two thirds of the 13-and-a-half-year term before he will be able to apply for parole. He will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the rest of his life.

Prosecutor Matthew Dunford told the court Harris’ offending came to light in a covert operation by the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit. Its undercover decoy law enforcement operative named “Andrew” purported to be an adult with access to children to try to identify people with a sexual interest in children.

Andrew, who pretended to have two daughters, got a message from Harris, with the online profile “DirtyMan46” on July 18, 2022, said the prosecutor.