Man placed on Sex Offenders Register over ‘horrific’ indecent images of children

Paul Smith, aged 42, of Lord Street, Rotherham, was sentenced to six months behind bars, suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to one count of distributing an indecent image of a child and three counts of making indecent images of children at a hearing last month.

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He was placed on the Sex Offenders Register and made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

A police investigation into Smith began in 2018, when officers received information that he had engaged in an online communication of concern.

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When officers seized Smith’s devices following his arrest and a search of his home, they recovered indecent images on his phone.

Detective Inspector Simon Leake from Doncaster said: “The images on Smith’s phone ranged in their severity from Category A, the most serious and horrific category, to Category C.

“Our investigation revealed that Smith had been visiting online sites where he was actively engaging in criminal communications relating to indecent images of children.

“This exploitation of children is completely unacceptable and dangerous. I am pleased that he pleaded guilty to these offences. He will now be closely monitored under the terms of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order and any breach could result in a prison term.”

SHPOs are a piece of legislation that can be granted to protect the public, or a particular individual, from sexual harm.

Orders can be granted as part of an offender’s sentence, or applied for independently of criminal proceedings.

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