BANBURY PAEDOPHILE WITH 3,000 INDECENT IMAGES SENTENCED
A paedophile has avoided jail despite being in possession of more than 3,000 indecent images of children.Russell Smith, of Lapsley Drive, Banbury, appeared at Oxford Crown Court to be sentenced on Thursday, November 27.
The 59-year-old pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children and one count of being in possession of extreme pornographic videos.
The court heard that Smith was in possession of 896 category A images, of which 807 were videos, 1,030 category B images, of which 379 were videos, and 1,487 category C images, of which 240 were videos.
It was also heard that the three extreme pornographic videos contained necrophilia.
READ MORE: Scales of Justice results from Oxford Magistrates' Court Meera Yagnik, prosecuting, informed the court that Smith was discovered with these images after a Thames Valley Police investigation into a Google account which uploaded a category A image and three category C images in August 2023.
In September 2024, this was traced to Smith's address, and officers seized two USB sticks and a laptop.
Smith wasn't present at the address at the time but later handed himself in to police and admitted collecting the images and videos.
Ms.
Yagnik stated: "He said he had been collecting the images over a four-year period.
There was a high volume of images and moving images." "There was extreme material of a sexual nature." Judge Ian Pringle KC authorized the devices' forfeiture.
Mitigating, Peter Du Feu mentioned: "There has been some time since this was discovered.
He has not downloaded any images or videos since then." "He is a 59-year-old of previous good character.
He has shown fulsome cooperation from the beginning.
He has been ashamed and embarrassed and his actions would cause devastation to his family." He explained that Smith used to work with prisoners in segregation but was unable to cope, suffering a nervous breakdown and developing an addiction to pornography.
Smith had sought rehabilitation before the charges.
Judge Pringle commented on the severity: "The amount of material you had was huge.
You were seeing real children being grotesquely abused.
People who collect this create a market that facilitates further abuse." Smith was sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for two years, ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid work within 12 months, and up to 40 rehabilitation activity days.
He must also complete six months of mental health rehabilitation and pay £150 in costs.
He is subject to a sexual harm prevention order and notification requirements for 10 years.
