JESSICA ANN SMITH/STEPHEN GORHAM CAUGHT IN SIDBURY TRYING TO MEET CHILD FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES

In April 2021, a serious case of online predatory behavior culminated in the arrest and sentencing of Jessica Ann Smith, also known as Stephen Gorham, in connection with a disturbing attempt to meet a minor for sexual purposes in Sidbury. The incident highlights the ongoing dangers posed by online predators and the efforts of dedicated paedophile hunting groups to protect vulnerable children.

Smith, aged 41, was found guilty of multiple charges related to her online communications with what she believed was a 14-year-old girl. Unbeknownst to her, the individual she was chatting with was an undercover decoy from the vigilant paedophile hunting organization known as 'Justice for the Tears.' This group had been monitoring her online activity and had passed the chat logs to the UK database, which tracks and investigates such cases.

According to reports, the authorities and the paedophile hunters executed a sting operation at a location in Sidbury. When the group arrived, they discovered Smith attempting to hide in nearby bushes, indicating her awareness of the impending confrontation. Her arrest followed shortly thereafter, and she was brought before Exeter Crown Court to face justice.

During the court proceedings, Smith pleaded guilty to four separate offences. Prosecutor Ms. Mary McCarthy detailed the nature of her online activities, revealing that Smith had created a profile on the social platform Skout, under the alias Jasmine from Exmouth, claiming to be a 20-year-old woman. She engaged in conversations with what she believed was a 14-year-old girl, but in reality, it was a decoy operated by the paedophile hunters.

Ms. McCarthy explained that the conversations quickly turned sexual in tone. Smith shared explicit photographs and encouraged sexual activity, crossing the boundaries of appropriate conduct. The prosecutor further revealed that in July 2018, Smith established another profile, this time posing as a 21-year-old woman on a different website. Once again, she believed she was communicating with a minor, but it was the same decoy team monitoring her activities.

In these exchanges, Smith sent sexual images of women and even made arrangements to meet in person. Alarmingly, when informed that a 12-year-old might also be present at the meeting, she not only expressed willingness for the minor to participate but also encouraged her to be involved in sexual acts. The situation escalated when the decoy team arrived at the designated meeting spot in Sidbury and saw a person dressed as a male peering through a hedge, attempting to conceal themselves.

Despite her attempts to deny any malicious intent, Smith was unable to escape the scrutiny of law enforcement. She was detained, and police investigations confirmed her involvement in the online exchanges. Smith admitted to sending the messages but claimed she had no intention of meeting a minor or engaging in sexual activity. She also expressed her fears regarding her gender reassignment process and her concern about being placed in a male prison.

Ultimately, Smith was convicted of one charge in Sidbury for communicating with a child and attempting to meet for a sexual offence, along with three additional charges related to attempting to incite or cause a child to engage in sexual activity. Her sentencing resulted in a prison term of two years and ten months, reflecting the severity of her actions and the importance of safeguarding children from online predators.