Phillip Bassett Kent Police custody image
A man from Dover has been jailed for sexually assaulting child after concerns raised by printers
Staff at a photo printing company who raised concerns to Kent Police after being asked to print indecent images helped officers uncover serious offences against children, resulting in a man being jailed.
Phillip Bassett, 30, from Dover, ordered the prints in July 2020. On seeing the concerning content of the photos, staff called police and officers from the Paedophile Online Investigation Team commenced an investigation.
On 14 August 2020, a search warrant was executed at Bassett’s home and officers seized his mobile phone.
The phone was examined and several videos were located showing Bassett abusing a child. In addition to this, he admitted accessing the dark web to view indecent images of children and also stated he had ordered the indecent images to be sent to the company for printing.
Following his arrest and an extensive investigation, he was charged with two counts of sexual assault on a child under 13, two counts of assaulting a child under 13 by penetration, taking indecent images of children, making an indecent image of a child and possession of indecent images of children.
Bassett admitted 15 charges before Canterbury Crown Court on 8 December 2020 and, on 16 June 2021, he was jailed for 12 years and nine months. He will serve an extra five years and three months on licence after that period.
Jo Freeman, from the Paedophile Online Investigation Team, said: ‘This was a disturbing case brought to our attention by the printing company used by Bassett. I would like to thank them for reporting it, as this allowed us to take quick action against Bassett.
‘The offender has acted in the most appalling way. Firstly, by abusing a child and then exposing innocent members of the public to his vile images by sending them for printing.
‘I commend the staff for their vigilance and swift action in reporting it to us – which may well have prevented more children from being harmed.’