CHRISTOPHER SMITH REOFFENDS IN CHESTER-LE-STREET: CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CASES AND INTERNET GROOMING REVELATIONS

In September 2018, a man with a troubling history of child exploitation was brought back before the courts in Chester-Le-Street after a significant lapse in his criminal behavior. Christopher Smith, who had previously been convicted of possessing indecent images of children, found himself facing new charges following a police raid at his residence. The raid uncovered computer equipment that contained disturbing evidence of his ongoing involvement in illegal activities.

Prosecutor Martin Towers detailed that during the examination of Smith’s seized computer, investigators discovered a hard drive containing six illicit images. Among these, two were classified in the most severe category, depicting the sexual abuse of young girls aged between six and eight. Although Smith had attempted to delete some of the material, four images had been discarded, leaving two that he still retained. The evidence further revealed that Smith had been engaging in online chat conversations, posing as a woman, and discussing paedophile activities with another user. A link to a website associated with pre-teen models was also identified.

During police interviews, Smith admitted responsibility for all the images found on his device. However, he claimed not to remember four of them and described his actions as a relapse that occurred in late 2016, referring to himself as “an idiot.” It was clarified that Smith’s previous conviction from April 2013, which resulted in a suspended nine-month prison sentence at Durham Crown Court for 17 counts related to downloading and storing indecent images, was not technically breached, as the sentence was suspended for two years.

At the hearing, Smith, aged 48 and residing on Victor Terrace in Chester-Le-Street, pleaded guilty to two counts of making indecent photographs of a child. The court’s presiding judge, Recorder Ian Atherton, acknowledged the aggravating factor of Smith’s prior conviction but accepted that his recent actions represented a brief “lapse” in judgment. The judge noted that Smith had been attempting to overcome his problematic tendencies and had sought help before his arrest.

In sentencing, Recorder Atherton imposed a five-month prison term, suspended for two years, coupled with 20 days of probation-supervised activities. Additionally, Smith was ordered to pay costs of £100 and a court surcharge of £115. As Smith prepared to leave the dock, the judge issued a stark warning: “Christopher Smith, this is your last chance. I think you know that.”

Earlier, in 2013, Smith’s criminal activities extended to online grooming, where he posed as a young girl named ‘Lucy Emms’ in internet chat rooms. This deception was uncovered after police seized his computer equipment during an operation involving both Durham and Hampshire authorities. The investigation revealed that Smith had attempted to conceal his activities by deleting much of the data, but 36 indecent images of children, including some particularly graphic ones involving girls aged two to 15, were recovered.

Smith admitted to visiting websites where child pornography was exchanged and to passing himself off as a young girl in chat conversations with adult men. Although he claimed this was a method used by individuals involved in grooming children, there was no direct evidence linking him to such activities. He explained that he used a cleaner tool on his computer for legitimate reasons, not to hide illicit material.

Mitigating his case, Smith’s legal representative highlighted that he had recognized his problematic behavior and sought help before his arrest. The defense noted that Smith, a 43-year-old working as an instrument commissioning technician, traveled internationally and had ample opportunity to view pornography. He had since changed jobs and was working offshore when the police investigation took place. Smith expressed remorse and curiosity about why others were interested in child pornography, admitting to viewing and deleting images he had received.

Judge Peter Kelson sentenced Smith to one year in prison, suspended for two years, with probation supervision and a requirement to complete a sex offender treatment program. Restrictions on his internet use were also imposed, along with an order to pay costs of £340 and to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for five years.

In a separate case in March 2013, Smith pleaded guilty to 17 child pornography charges at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court. The charges included 16 counts of making indecent images of children and one count of possessing 20 such images, with the victims all under the age of 13. The offences spanned from June 2009 to October 2012. The case was subsequently committed to Durham Crown Court for sentencing, and Smith was granted unconditional bail pending that hearing.