Description
A paedophile was given a taste of life inside jail by a judge in an effort to get him to stay out of trouble. Lee Smith, 50, had first been caught with indecent child images in 2016 and given a suspended sentence, along with a sexual harm prevention order banning him from doing various online activities and and controlling his use of electronic devices.
However, in February last year he was caught with more indecent images on his phone, which he had attempted to delete, along with internet searches for 'cute schoolgirls' and 'Asian girls'. He pleaded guilty to breaching his order and appeared at Leicester Crown Court for sentencing on Friday, (January 20)
Michelle Harding, representing Smith, of Rutland Avenue, Aylestone, Leicester said he was "clearly in denial" about his offending and that "a lot of work needs to be done with Mr Smith over a length of time" to stop him offending again. She said any jail sentence would prevent him getting that help.
Smith wept in the dock while Ms Harding described how Smith's father had recently suffered a broken bone in his neck and Smith was applying to be his carer. The court heard Smith had, with the consent of social services, recently been living with a woman who had two children.
But Judge Timothy Spencer agreed to a new, tougher sexual harm prevention order banning him from contact with any under-16s and from going within 50 metres of a school between now and July 2026. Those changes to his order were opposed by Ms Harding on the grounds of Smith's human rights but Judge Spencer told her: "It's deeply worrying what was found on his phone - he's not in the position of an ordinary citizen."
Noting the state of Smith as he cried in the dock, Judge Spencer told him: "I've been watching you and I think a realisation has come to you how serious a position you've put yourself in." Having agreed to the tougher restrictions, the judge sent Smith - who had been out on bail - to spend more than two hours in the cells while he considered the sentence.
After Smith was brought back to court, Judge Spencer gave Smith an eight-month sentence, suspended for two years. The judge told him: "On October 17, 2016, you were before this court for serious offences related to indecent images of children.
"You were fortunate you were given a suspended sentence and you should have taken that as a very clear warning. You've been in the cell a few hours and if I see you again you will go to the cells for months if not years."