KEITH SMITH FROM LEVENSHULME JAILED AFTER CHILD PORN FOUND BY TEENAGE CAR THIEVES IN MANCHESTER

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community, Keith Smith, a 58-year-old resident of Levenshulme, Manchester, has been sentenced to prison following a series of events that uncovered a cache of illegal and disturbing images. The chain of events began when a group of teenage burglars broke into a property where Smith was staying. During the break-in, they stole his car keys and drove off in his vehicle, unaware of the dark secrets hidden within.

While inspecting the car, the teenagers discovered a computer left inside. Upon examining its contents, they were reportedly so alarmed by what they found that they decided to pass the device to an adult, who then handed it over to the police. The police investigation revealed that the computer contained approximately 15,000 images of child pornography, along with a disturbing photograph depicting a dog being abused by a woman. The burglary itself remains unsolved, and the identities of the teenage burglars have not been established. The individual who acted as an intermediary in passing the computer to authorities was not linked to the crime.

Following the discovery, police conducted multiple raids at addresses associated with Keith Smith. These searches uncovered a significant amount of illegal material, including the extensive collection of child abuse images. Smith was subsequently arrested and later admitted to downloading 18 samples of indecent and extreme images. Prosecutor Kate Hammond explained that in September 2009, a man had approached a police station and handed in an external hard drive, two pen drives, and five memory cards. He claimed these items had been stolen during a burglary and that he had been given them by youths who were frightened by the content stored on the devices.

Since his arrest, Smith has engaged in a treatment program aimed at addressing his compulsive behavior related to viewing such material. His defense attorney, Vincent Deane, expressed that Smith was 'truly ashamed' of his actions and had shown genuine remorse, emphasizing that he had tried to confront his problem rather than deny it.

However, the court, presided over by Judge Robert Atherton, emphasized that the law mandated a custodial sentence. Smith was sentenced to 12 months in prison. The judge acknowledged that Smith's case was unusual, noting that there was no prior history or evidence suggesting he had predatory tendencies towards children. He stated, 'You are not a person who has a history of being a paedophile or predatory towards teenage or younger children. You have a previous good character. I hope that when you are released you will continue to address the problem.'

In addition to his prison sentence, Smith was subjected to a sexual offences prevention order, which restricts his internet usage and requires him to sign the sex offenders' register. The case has raised serious concerns about online safety and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable individuals from exploitation and abuse.