ANTHONY SMITH FROM WEST MOLESEY JAILED FOR CHILD INDECENCY CRIMES IN HAMPSHIRE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community, Anthony Smith, a former police officer from West Molesey, has been sentenced to prison for engaging in indecent acts in front of a web camera while a 15-year-old girl watched from her computer. The incident, which took place over a period of six months, involved Smith maintaining online contact with the young girl from Hampshire, during which he committed a series of inappropriate and criminal acts.

Smith, who was 40 years old at the time and resided in Hurst Park, West Molesey, was employed with the Metropolitan Police and worked within the specialized firearms unit at Heathrow Airport. Despite denying the charges of gross indecency towards a child, the court found him guilty after a thorough trial at Portsmouth Crown Court. He was subsequently sentenced to 18 months in prison on a Thursday, marking a significant fall from grace for the former officer.

The court proceedings revealed that Smith first initiated contact with the girl on April 5, 2003, and continued to communicate with her through online chats for several months. The communication intensified, with Smith reaching out to her ten more times before the criminal act occurred on April 23 of the same year. The victim, who was only 15 at the time, provided police with detailed accounts of Smith’s actions, including the fact that he sent her images of himself dressed in police uniform and posing with a firearm. She also disclosed that Smith had pleasuring himself in front of his webcam during their conversations and persistently asked her for nude photographs, despite being aware of her age.

Further evidence presented in court included chat logs and photographs found on Smith’s computer, which showed images of him and documented the times they had interacted online. Swabs taken from his webcam confirmed that he had engaged in pleasuring himself during these encounters. The police investigation was initiated after the girl contacted authorities, leading to Smith’s arrest in December 2003 when his computer and webcam were seized. Although Smith admitted to having sexually explicit conversations and requesting nude images, he claimed that these exchanges were part of a role-play fantasy and denied actually pleasuring himself during the chats.

The court heard that Smith had confided in the girl, revealing that she was a victim of abuse, and that he had received bravery awards for his police work. However, his actions demonstrated a gross breach of trust, especially considering his position as a police officer and his knowledge of the girl’s vulnerability. Judge Derwin Hope condemned Smith’s conduct, stating, “Despite knowing her age and vulnerability to sex abuse, you continued with your advances. Your actions involved an enormous breach of trust, not only to the girl and her parents but also to society in general who expect police officers to protect children and not abuse them.”

As a consequence of his crimes, Smith was not only sentenced to prison but also lost his job. Additionally, he was placed on the sex offenders’ register for ten years and disqualified from working with children, reflecting the serious nature of his misconduct and the breach of public trust.