HEBBURN PAEDOPHILE DANIEL SMITH CAUGHT AGAIN IN NEWCASTLE: SECOND OFFENCE DESPITE BAIL

In a disturbing case that highlights the ongoing threat posed by online predators, Daniel Smith, a 21-year-old resident of Hebburn in Tyne and Wear, has been found guilty of attempting to engage in sexual activities with minors through online communication. This case marks his second encounter with paedophile hunters, despite being on bail for a previous offence.

Back in November 2015, Smith believed he was chatting with a teenage girl named 'Zoe' on the internet. Unbeknownst to him, the entire interaction was orchestrated by Dark Justice, an undercover organisation dedicated to catching online predators by posing as minors. During these conversations, Smith was repeatedly informed that 'Zoe' was only 13 years old. Despite this, he continued to send explicit messages, including requests for 'naughty photographs' and even brought a bottle of gin, intending to share it with the girl when they met.

His plans came to a halt when members of Dark Justice confronted him at Times Square in Newcastle after he arrived to meet 'Zoe'. The organisation had already alerted the police, leading to his arrest. Smith was allowed to remain free on bail while his case was processed through the crown court system. During this period, he did not desist from his predatory behaviour. Instead, he initiated another online conversation, this time with a profile claiming to be a 14-year-old girl named 'Louise'. This profile was created by Guardians of the North, another group of paedophile hunters operating with similar objectives.

In these new exchanges, Smith again asked to meet up, requested photographs, and described in graphic detail what he intended to do with the supposed underage girl. Although no physical meeting was arranged, his explicit requests and detailed descriptions demonstrated his continued intent to exploit minors.

At Newcastle Crown Court, Smith pleaded guilty to three charges: two counts of attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming and one count of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity. Judge Tim Gittins addressed Smith directly, stating, 'At a time when you were on bail and should have been on your best behaviour by way of any social interaction with any female at all, you chose to engage with a profile on another site.'

In light of his actions, the court sentenced Smith to a community order for three years, which includes requirements to participate in a sex offender treatment programme. Additionally, he is mandated to register as a sex offender for five years and must adhere to a sexual harm prevention order for seven years. The judge emphasized that intervention, rather than imprisonment, was deemed appropriate in this case to mitigate the risk Smith poses to children, highlighting the importance of preventative measures in such cases.