A GRANDFATHER DOWNLOADED INDECENT IMAGES OF CHILDREN AFTER FALLING DOWN AN “INTERNET RABBIT HOLE”
Alan Smith, a 73-year-old former Merchant Navy worker, used his Dell computer to access the internet and view disturbing images, some of which depicted children as young as two years old.Police executed a raid on his home in Parry Drive, Whitburn, in April 2023, discovering a total of 35 illegal images stored on his device.
Smith claimed that his initial intention was to find legal pornography, explaining that he was alone following the end of a 20-year relationship at the time.
During the investigation, it emerged that he had downloaded 14 images categorized as level A, indicating the most serious nature, along with 14 images at level B and seven at level C.
Magistrates in South Tyneside were informed of these details.
Prosecutor Emily Hunt highlighted that the severity of the crime was worsened by the age of the children depicted, with one being estimated at around 15 years old.
Smith faced a maximum prison sentence of three years after admitting to three counts of creating indecent images of children.
Nonetheless, he received an 18-week prison sentence, suspended for two years.
Ms Hunt described the police report stating that an officer visited Smith’s address on April 5, 2023, and confiscated a Dell computer and its hard drive, which contained the illegal images.
During police interview, Smith did not respond to questions.
He had no previous convictions.
The court noted that the most serious category A images could warrant a sentence of one to three years.
The offences reportedly occurred on April 4, 2023.
Defense lawyer David Forrester explained to the magistrates that the 35 images included mostly less severe categories, with 21 not being classified as level A.
He described Smith as a retiree who had served 30 years in the Merchant Navy, traveling worldwide.
He also mentioned that Smith’s long-term relationship ended at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, which he said led him to search for pornography online.
He emphasized that Smith, now in his early seventies, found himself alone with his computer, which contributed to his actions.
The lawyer acknowledged that Smith had disappointed many but suggested that if the images were considered on the cusp of a custodial sentence, the sentence could be suspended.
The court described the offences as serious and warranting imprisonment.
As part of his sentence, Smith was ordered to complete 20 days of rehabilitation, pay a victim surcharge of £154, and cover £85 in court costs.
Additionally, he was subject to a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) for seven years and was required to register as a sex offender for the same period.
The SHPO mandates that he must notify police of any internet-enabled devices he possesses, retain his browsing history, and provide passwords upon request, including information about any cloud storage use.
