MATTHEW SMITH FROM BRAINTREE AND SOUTHEND CAUGHT WITH INDECENT IMAGES ON EBAY

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local communities of Braintree and Southend, a man named Matthew Smith was found to be in possession of indecent images of young boys after he sold a second-hand memory stick on eBay for a mere £3.

The memory stick, which was bought by a computer security specialist from Lancashire named Mr. Braithwaite, contained images of boys aged 12 and 13 engaged in homosexual acts. Although Smith claimed that he had deleted the images, forensic examination revealed that the files were still hidden on the device.

The incident came to light when authorities traced the sale of the memory stick, which took place in July 2007. Smith, aged 33 and residing at Skelter Steps on the Kursaal estate in Southend, was subsequently arrested at his previous address on Notley Road in Braintree.

During court proceedings at Chelmsford Crown Court, Smith pleaded guilty to nine counts of making and possessing indecent images. Prosecutor Stephanie Farrimond detailed that Smith admitted to downloading a total of 79 images depicting boys aged 12 to 13 involved in homosexual acts. The offences spanned from December 31, 2005, to August 4, 2007, with the sale of the memory stick occurring in July 2007.

In his defense, Nicola May argued that Smith deserved an opportunity to seek help, emphasizing his apparent need for support. The judge, Peter Fenn, acknowledged that Smith’s past experiences had left him severely scarred. Recognizing the seriousness of the offences but also the potential for rehabilitation, the judge sentenced Smith to a three-year community order. Additionally, Smith was placed on the sex offenders register for a period of five years, underscoring the gravity of his actions and the ongoing risk to the community.