GARRY SMITH BRIDPORT MUSICIAN CAUGHT WITH CHILD INDECENT IMAGES IN DORSET

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community of Bridport, Dorset, Garry Martin Smith, a 66-year-old musician known locally as Garry ‘the Slide Guy’ Smith, has been found in possession of an alarming collection of indecent images of children. The case, which has garnered significant attention, was heard at Bournemouth Crown Court, where Smith faced serious charges related to the exploitation of minors through digital images.

According to court records, Smith was in possession of a total of 288 indecent images of children spanning a period from April 2016 to January 2020. The images included a variety of categories, with five counts classified as category A, the most severe, which involved children aged between 10 and 15 years old. Two of these category A images were videos, further emphasizing the gravity of the material. Additionally, Smith was found to possess eight counts of category B images and a staggering 275 counts of category C images, which are considered less severe but still highly inappropriate.

Prosecutor Dominik Morton detailed to the court that some of the children depicted in Smith’s collection were as young as seven years old. The investigation revealed that Smith accessed many of the category C images through social media platforms, notably Tumblr. This detail underscores the ease with which such illicit material can be accessed and circulated online, raising concerns about digital safety and the protection of minors.

During the proceedings, Smith admitted to the possession of all the charges, which included five counts of category A indecent images, two of which were videos, along with the counts of categories B and C. The court was informed that Smith’s actions came to light after the National Crime Agency (NCA) flagged his online activity in 2018. Despite this early warning, police did not arrest him until March 2020, when officers finally visited his residence on Mount Pleasant in Bridport to make the arrest.

In his previous court appearance before magistrates, Smith expressed remorse and demonstrated cooperation with law enforcement. He was willing to show officers the sites where he viewed the indecent images, indicating a level of acknowledgment of his wrongdoing. His legal representative, Simon Lacey, highlighted that Smith had immediately admitted to possessing the images upon arrest and had been seeking counseling to address his behavior. Lacey also noted that Smith’s wife, who has stood by him throughout the investigation, remains supportive, and that the couple shared a “quite a beautiful relationship,” with Smith supporting his wife during her illness.

Judge Jonathan Fuller addressed the court, condemning the actions involved in such offenses. He stated, “It is a terrible trade that people involve themselves in, and it is a terrible thing that adults seek gratification from these images.” The judge acknowledged that Smith displayed “clear insight” into his actions and assessed that the risk of reoffending was low. As part of his sentence, Smith was handed a 12-month community order with a requirement to participate in a rehabilitation activity. He was also issued a five-year sexual harm prevention order and ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for five years. Furthermore, the court ordered the forfeiture and destruction of three computer devices seized during police searches, and Smith was ordered to pay £425 towards prosecution costs along with an £85 victim surcharge.

In a related case from January 2021, Smith had already admitted to possessing nearly 300 indecent images of children. The court heard that Smith’s collection included images of children aged between 10 and 15 years old, with the most serious images classified as category A. His legal representative reiterated that Smith had cooperated fully with police investigations and expressed remorse for his actions. The case was scheduled for sentencing at Bournemouth Crown Court, with Smith expected to appear on February 12, 2021, to face the consequences of his conduct.

This case has once again brought to light the ongoing issues surrounding online exploitation and the importance of vigilant law enforcement efforts to combat such heinous crimes. The community of Bridport, and indeed the wider Dorset area, remains deeply concerned about the safety of children and the need for continued vigilance against those who seek to exploit them through digital means.