A FIEND who targeted a mum on Tinder on sexually assault her newborn baby boy has been jailed for life.
Christopher Phillips, 34, was “actively looking for a baby” when he joined the dating app to seek out new parents.
He preyed on the victim’s vulnerable mum after seeing a picture of her clutching her newborn.
The ten-week-old was rushed to hospital in January 2021 with injuries likened to a child being “hit by a bus.”
Medics found the baby had a fractured ankle and wrist, six fractured ribs, a fractured skull and a bleed on the brain.
Phillips has now been jailed for life with a minimum of 16 years and 25 days after he was convicted of sexual assault by penetration, actual bodily harm and two offences of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
The baby’s mum was found not guilty on both counts of allowing her child to suffer serious physical harm and child neglect.
Sentencing, Judge Paul Thomas KC told Phillips he inflicted the graphic injuries on the “utterly defenceless baby” to “satisfy your grotesque sexual perversion”.
He previously told him: “In my over forty years of experience, this has been the most distressing case I have ever had to deal with.
“This has truly shaken me to my core.”
Swansea Crown Court heard the baby’s mum was vulnerable and Phillips “cynically exploited” her to “gain unfettered access” to the child.
After the baby was taken to hospital, police and social services were made aware of his injuries.
Phillips was cleared of two offences of causing GBH with intent and of two alternative offences of inflicting GBH.
