Bunbury man Mark Jordan William Baxter found guilty of engaging in sexual conduct with teenager

A 28-year-old who engaged in a sexual relationship with a teenage girl after sending her direct messages on Instagram is set to await sentencing for his offending. Mark Jordan William Baxter was convicted of indecently dealing with a child aged between 13 and 16 years and sexually penetrating a child aged between 13 and 16 years following a three-day trial in the Bunbury District Court last week. The court was told Baxter and the complainant were in a relationship that stemmed from Baxter sending the teenager direct messages on Instagram from August 2020 to October 2020. When police attended Baxter’s Usher property in relation to an unrelated matter, detectives found the teenager sleeping in Baxter’s bed. As police conducted inquiries, the girl disclosed to the detectives that she had “unprotected sex” with Baxter the night before, prompting Baxter’s arrest. The court was also told of a prior incident where Baxter had indecently dealt with the teenager, leaving “hickeys” on her neck and breasts. The court was also shown a series of pictures that had been sent to Baxter’s phone from the complainant via Snapchat, depicting her in cropped shirts and underwear, as well as a series of Instagram messages exchanged between the pair where they described each other as “hot as f...”, “sexy”, called each other “baby” and expressed love for each other with copious love heart emojis. In a child witness interview that was played as evidence, the teenager said Baxter had disclosed to her that he was 15 years old when she asked him how old he was after she disclosed that she was 14 years old at the time. She said she felt “relieved” after she had been told by other people that he was older. Medical evidence taken from the victim and reported by paediatrician Dr Louise Houliston found a number of injuries including bruises on her neck and chest that were likely to have been “suction bruises”, the technical term for a “hickey”. In a police interview that was played for the court, Baxter admitted he was in a relationship with the teenager and had an interest in girls aged between 15 and 17 years. However, throughout the interview he denied that any sexual conduct ever took place between him and the victim, later asking the detectives “where’s your proof?” and saying police finding the girl sleeping in his bed “doesn’t mean s...”. Baxter also claimed that the girl had told him she was 15 years old and questioned if disclosing his age to her “was relevant”. In closing, State prosecutor Lisa Boston said Baxter lied about his age to the victim to make her feel more comfortable. Ms Boston also submitted the content of the messages and pictures that were sent between Baxter and the complainant were “consistent with a relationship that had a sexual component” and would not occur in a platonic relationship. Baxter will next appear in the District Court in August to be sentenced after a psychological report is obtained.