Woman jailed for abusing boy after grooming him over Facebook

A woman who groomed a 13-year-old boy over Facebook before abusing him has been jailed for five years, police said.

Charlene Baxter, 29, of Southall, Middlesex, befriended the boy over Facebook in May and June this year.

Dorset Police said Baxter chatted to the boy online, shared sexually explicit images and spoke to him in a sexual manner.

She arranged to travel to Christchurch in Dorset on August 20 to meet the boy.

The victim's mother contacted police to report her son missing later that day. She examined his computer and found Baxter had been communicating with him.

Police said Baxter gave the boy alcohol and they stayed in a tent overnight on a beach, where sexual activity took place.

On August 21 the boy contacted his mother and was found. Baxter was arrested on a train at Basingstoke railway station later that evening.

Baxter, also known as Charlene Cole, admitted child abduction, sexual activity with a child and meeting a child following sexual grooming, the force said.

She was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court to five years in prison, and ordered to sign the sex offenders' register indefinitely.

Police said Baxter was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order.

Detective Constable Adam Taylor, of Dorset Police, said: "Baxter admitted to meeting with her young victim and engaging in sexual activity with him after she groomed him online.

"Dorset Police is committed to safeguarding children at risk of sexual exploitation.

"We are working closely with partner agencies to ensure the victim and his family continues to receive full support following the incident."

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