Bristol church volunteer who abused boys is jailed

A "dangerous and predatory" paedophile who befriended families of young boys at a church so he could sexually abuse them has been given a 12-year sentence.

Owen Baxter, 23, of Zetland Road, Redland, was told he would serve six years in jail and another six on licence with close monitoring by the Probation Service when he was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court this afternoon.

Baxter had previously pleaded guilty to 23 charges, dating from 2001, when he was himself aged under 16, until 2008.

His offences included making more than 8,000 indecent photographs and videos of children, and distributing more than 3,000 images and videos of children via the internet.

He admitted sexually assaulting and taking indecent images of four boys aged between four and 12.

The abuse took place at his home, at other houses in the city and at St Matthews Church in Clare Road, Kingsdown.

Judge Jamie Tabor decided against a life sentence because of Baxter's age and lack of previous convictions.