Wirral sex offender told police ‘I know why you’re here’

Paul Smith, of Cleveland Street, Birkenhead, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court today (Monday, November 18) where he was sentenced after he was caught with indecent images of children as young as two-years-old.

The 55-year-old pleaded guilty for offences including possessing indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child, making indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child, distributing an indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child and possessing extreme pornographic image / images portraying an act of intercourse / oral sex with a dead / alive animal.

Iain Criddle, prosecuting, told the court how on October 4, 2023, police were granted a search warrant for Smith’s home after they received intelligence that there was someone responsible for downloading incident images.

When police arrived at Smith’s address, he told police he “knew why they were there” before handing over a storage card.

Mr Criddle said: “He told officers they would find indecent images.”

Police seized items including a storage card and computer tower and found incident images of children on both.

A forensic analysis by police after seizing the items showed images and videos of children as young as two which police recovered from the computers jump list.

Of these, 14 were placed in the most serious category A, 10 of which were videos while there were 11 category B images, four of them videos.

There were also 14 category C images, four which were videos and three images of extreme images which included adults engaged in sexual activity with children.

The court also heard of one image showed a child as young as two involved in penetrative sex.

Mr Criddle said: “When the computer tower was examined officers found an email and found a category C image that the defendant had sent to someone with a message saying if you send me one of yours, I’ll send you one of mine.”

During his police interview, Smith admitted to possessing and sharing images.

John Rowan, defending, said Smith had entered guilty pleas at the “earliest matter” and had admitted his crimes to police both during his arrest and interview.

He said: “He is a main of previous good character and it brings him great shame. He was perhaps blind to the serious impact, but he quite readily accepts each of the images represent a child who has been abused.

“He wants it known having had his eyes open to the facts that he is deeply and utterly ashamed and disgusted in himself.

“For many years he had led a law-abiding life and he has health issues and had become quite lonely and isolated.

“This is a man who has engaged properly with the court and police process.

“There is no suggestion of reoffending, and he acknowledges his behaviour. This man has a relative prosect of rehabilitation.”

Sentencing, Judge Anil Murray, said: “You’re 55 and previously a man of good character who told police you knew why they were there. Devices show activity was going on for a long time.

“Fortunately for you it was one image you distributed if it was more, you would be going straight to prison.

“You feel shame and remorse as you should. You were in care as a child and have a problem with alcohol, but this clearly has to be a prison sentence.

“You are not thought to be a risk to the public and you have a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

“If I see you again you will go straight to prison.”

Smith was sentenced to 10 months in prison suspended for two years.

Judge Murray also ordered that he comply with a sexual harm prevention order for the next 10 years and sign the sex offender register for the next 10 years.

He must also complete 13 rehabilitation activity days and pay £200.

Leaving the court Smith said: “I apologise for everything I’ve done. You won’t see me again.”