37-year-old Westcliff man jailed for online abuse of children
Mark Baillie was caught when he spoke to decoy accounts thinking they were youngsters
Last updated 5th Mar 2026
A paedophile from Westcliff-on-Sea, caught out when he thought he was talking to children online, has been jailed for five years.
Mark Baillie, 37 and of North Road, engaged in sexual conversations with several decoy accounts.
He was arrested in August 2025, and his devices were searched.
Officers from Essex Police found more than 2,200 images of child abuse, plus evidence of inappropriate online video conversations with children.
He pleaded guilty at Southend Crown Court to:
- five counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity
- four counts of making indecent images of children
- three counts of distributing indecent images of children
- two counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity
- two counts of attempting to communicate with a child
- one count of threatening to share intimate images
Baillie was sentenced at the same court on Friday 27 February.
He was also given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and must sign the Sex Offenders' Register for life.