MARTIN SMEE FROM KINGS LANGLEY SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES IN ST ALBANS

In a disturbing case that shocked the community of Kings Langley, Martin Smee was found to be in possession of a vast collection of child pornography, leading to his conviction and subsequent sentencing. The incident came to light after neighbors, disturbed by an overpowering and foul smell emanating from his flat, contacted local authorities, fearing that Smee might have succumbed to the stench. When police arrived at his residence on Station Approach in Kings Langley, they were met with a scene of squalor and neglect, which further revealed the extent of Smee's illicit activities.

Inside the filthy and cluttered flat, officers uncovered a shocking cache of over 2,000 images depicting child abuse. The images were meticulously cataloged by Smee himself, with the collection spanning approximately a decade. The images ranged in severity from level one to the most serious, level five, with 38 images classified at the highest level of depravity. The victims' ages varied from as young as three or four years old up to 13 or 14, highlighting the disturbing nature of the material.

Further investigation revealed that Smee had also taken secret photographs of women during a train journey, using his mobile phone. Among the 46 images found in his possession, 20 were classified as being at levels four or five, indicating highly explicit content. Police also discovered a pair of young girl’s knickers in a nearby launderette, which Smee claimed to have found and intended to dispose of, although the court was skeptical of this explanation.

At the time of his arrest, Smee was found to be carrying additional illicit images in his briefcase, including 20 at the most severe levels. When questioned, Smee admitted that he intended to get rid of the images, but the court did not accept this as credible. Smee, who has since moved to St Helens, Lancashire, pleaded guilty to charges of making and possessing child pornography images. Known to have been a man of previously good character, Smee’s background included employment with an internet service provider.

During the sentencing hearing at St Albans Crown Court, Smee’s defense lawyer, Jason Halsey, emphasized that his client had not distributed any of the images and described him as a “sad and isolated individual.” Halsey also noted that Smee had been open and honest with police and probation officers about his actions.

Judge Michael Kay QC sentenced Smee to 15 months in prison. Additionally, he ordered that Smee be placed on license for three years upon release, allowing probation services to monitor him closely and ensure participation in a sex offenders’ rehabilitation program. Smee is also required to register as a sex offender for ten years, and he is prohibited from working with children. Furthermore, he will be subject to a ten-year sexual offending probation order, which grants police access to his computers at any time for monitoring purposes. The court also mandated that all images found in Smee’s possession be destroyed to prevent further dissemination of the material.