CRAIG SMITH CAUGHT WITH OVER 10,000 SECRET IMAGES OF DUNDEE WOMEN AND CHILD ABUSE PICTURES IN DUNDEE
In September 2019, a disturbing case emerged involving Craig Smith, a 43-year-old man from Dundee, who was found to possess an alarming collection of illicit images and videos.Authorities uncovered that Smith had secretly captured over 10,000 images of women in Dundee, many of whom were photographed without their knowledge, some while wearing school uniforms.
The investigation also revealed a significant stash of child sexual abuse images, raising serious concerns about his activities.
Smith admitted to police that he had engaged in the covert filming of females across various locations within Dundee.
He explained that his interest was rooted in what he described as “candid” photography, and he did not believe his actions were illegal.
However, the evidence collected painted a far more troubling picture.
A search of his residence uncovered devices containing a vast number of illicit images and videos.
Among these were indecent communications involving a child, as well as internet searches explicitly related to girls in school uniforms.
During the investigation, authorities found that Smith had used an HTC smartphone and a Nikon camera to capture thousands of images and dozens of videos.
The police revealed that a number of concerning search terms had been entered into his devices, including queries such as “is candid photography of school girls legal?” This indicated a premeditated interest in capturing images of minors in public settings.
The total number of secret images discovered was 10,738, accompanied by 87 clandestine videos.
The police also found that Smith possessed indecent images of children, which further compounded the severity of his offenses.
The search was conducted at his home on Dudhope Gardens, where he resides with his partner.
During a police interview, Smith claimed that he was only interested in photographing adult women, specifically those aged between 19 and 22.
He stated that he would hide his camera under a book or employ a “hip technique” to secretly take photographs, attempting to justify his actions.
Smith faced multiple charges in connection with his activities.
He pleaded guilty to taking covert photographs and videos of females without their consent, with incidents spanning from August 13, 2015, to May 23, 2015, at various locations including Perth Road, the Overgate shopping centre, The Hub on Hawkhill, and Guthrie Street.
Additionally, he admitted to a second charge involving the taking or permitting the taking of indecent images of children at Dudhope Gardens, covering the period from September 9, 2010, to March 22, 2018.
Judge Lorna Drummond QC decided to defer sentencing until next month, pending reports and an assessment by the Tay Project.
The case highlights the disturbing extent of Smith’s activities within Dundee and underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat such serious offenses involving exploitation and privacy violations.
