RICHARD SMITH FROM RUTHERGLEN INVOLVED IN CHILD IMAGE CRIME AT GLASGOW AND BURNSIDE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community, Richard Smith, a 45-year-old man from Rutherglen, has been found guilty of possessing a large collection of indecent images of children. The investigation was initiated after Smith's estranged wife discovered the illicit material on a computer at their former residence in Cambuslang, prompting her to contact the police in July.

The authorities responded swiftly, seizing the computer equipment and subsequently conducting a thorough search of Smith's parents' house in Burnside, where additional devices were recovered. The police forensic analysis revealed that Smith had downloaded a total of 14,382 indecent images of minors, ranging from girls aged eight to sixteen years old. These images had been obtained from various internet sources over a period spanning from December 2012 to January 2016.

During the court proceedings at Glasgow Sheriff Court, Smith admitted to the charges, acknowledging his involvement in downloading the illicit material over a period of more than three years. The court was informed that the images were categorized from levels A to C, with level A representing the most severe content. The police also uncovered a further 9,830 images classified as level C during their investigation.

The court heard that Smith and his wife had recently separated when she made the discovery. She recounted her shock and distress upon finding the images on the computer drives, which led her to contact law enforcement. Her concern was compounded by her protective instincts for her 14-year-old daughter, who was part of the household during the marriage. The discovery prompted her to change the locks and report the matter to the police in July 2015.

The investigation revealed that the images involved young girls between the ages of eight and sixteen, and they had been downloaded from various online sources. Smith's guilty plea resulted in his being placed on the sex offenders' register for two years. Additionally, he was sentenced to complete 140 hours of unpaid community work within a year and was ordered to participate in a sex offender treatment program.

The court's decision was deferred until next month, with Sheriff Sam Cathcart continuing Smith's bail. The case has sparked widespread outrage, with Smith's ex-wife expressing her disillusionment with the criminal justice system. She stated, "I am very disappointed and disillusioned with the criminal justice system that someone who has committed such a sickening act over a four-year period is only served with a community service programme when people are in jail for crimes of a far less sinister nature."

Speaking publicly about her ordeal, she emphasized the importance of raising awareness about such crimes. She said, "There are probably people like this everywhere. They think they can get away with it. They just can’t do it, they need to be punished. Some of these poor girls are aged eight, it’s disgusting, he’s a horrible person."

The case highlights the ongoing issue of online child exploitation and the need for vigilant law enforcement and community awareness to combat such heinous crimes.