DAVID SAMUEL SMOUT CAUGHT IN DORRINGTON PAEDOPHILE STING ESCAPES JAIL
| Red Rose Database
Dorrington Child Sexual Abuser
In July 2023, a significant case unfolded involving a man from Dorrington who was caught in a paedophile hunter operation. The individual, identified as David Samuel Smout, aged 62 at the time of sentencing, was apprehended after attempting to engage in illicit activities with someone he believed to be a minor.
Smout resides off the A49 main road in Dorrington, a village in Shropshire, and his actions drew the attention of local authorities and vigilant community groups. The incident came to light when a volunteer from the organization Keep Kids Safe initiated an online conversation with Smout, posing as a 14-year-old girl. Over the course of 17 days, Smout exchanged numerous messages with the volunteer, many of which contained sexual content, despite the volunteer mentioning that she was a schoolgirl or in lessons at the time.
According to the prosecution, Mr. Philip Clemo, the court heard that Smout's messages were explicitly sexual in nature. The exchanges revealed his intent to incite a minor to engage in sexual activity, and he believed that the girl was indeed a child. The messages included references to the girl being 14 years old, and Smout's conduct was deemed highly concerning by the authorities.
Following the completion of the online communication, the case was reported to the police, leading to Smout's arrest and subsequent court proceedings at Shrewsbury Crown Court. During the hearing, Judge Peter Barrie addressed the severity of the case, emphasizing the potential long-lasting psychological harm that could have been inflicted if the individual had been genuinely a 14-year-old girl.
Smout admitted to multiple charges, including attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, engaging in sexual activity under the false belief that a child was present, and possessing an extreme pornographic image. Despite the gravity of these charges, Smout was sentenced to 21 months in prison, but the sentence was suspended for two years, allowing him to avoid immediate incarceration.
In addition to the suspended sentence, the court ordered Smout to complete 80 hours of unpaid community work and participate in 30 hours of rehabilitation activities. Furthermore, Judge Barrie issued a sexual harm prevention order, restricting Smout's future conduct and contact to prevent any further risk to minors.
This case highlights the ongoing efforts of community groups and law enforcement to combat online child exploitation and protect vulnerable minors from predatory behavior. The incident in Dorrington serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and the role of paedophile hunter groups in safeguarding children.
Smout resides off the A49 main road in Dorrington, a village in Shropshire, and his actions drew the attention of local authorities and vigilant community groups. The incident came to light when a volunteer from the organization Keep Kids Safe initiated an online conversation with Smout, posing as a 14-year-old girl. Over the course of 17 days, Smout exchanged numerous messages with the volunteer, many of which contained sexual content, despite the volunteer mentioning that she was a schoolgirl or in lessons at the time.
According to the prosecution, Mr. Philip Clemo, the court heard that Smout's messages were explicitly sexual in nature. The exchanges revealed his intent to incite a minor to engage in sexual activity, and he believed that the girl was indeed a child. The messages included references to the girl being 14 years old, and Smout's conduct was deemed highly concerning by the authorities.
Following the completion of the online communication, the case was reported to the police, leading to Smout's arrest and subsequent court proceedings at Shrewsbury Crown Court. During the hearing, Judge Peter Barrie addressed the severity of the case, emphasizing the potential long-lasting psychological harm that could have been inflicted if the individual had been genuinely a 14-year-old girl.
Smout admitted to multiple charges, including attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, engaging in sexual activity under the false belief that a child was present, and possessing an extreme pornographic image. Despite the gravity of these charges, Smout was sentenced to 21 months in prison, but the sentence was suspended for two years, allowing him to avoid immediate incarceration.
In addition to the suspended sentence, the court ordered Smout to complete 80 hours of unpaid community work and participate in 30 hours of rehabilitation activities. Furthermore, Judge Barrie issued a sexual harm prevention order, restricting Smout's future conduct and contact to prevent any further risk to minors.
This case highlights the ongoing efforts of community groups and law enforcement to combat online child exploitation and protect vulnerable minors from predatory behavior. The incident in Dorrington serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and the role of paedophile hunter groups in safeguarding children.