PORT TALBOT PAEDOPHILE DAVID SMITH CAUGHT WITH CHILD ABUSE IMAGES AND SEX DOLL

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Port Talbot, a man named David Richard Mansel William Smith has been found guilty of possessing indecent images of children and engaging in illegal activities involving a sex doll. The incident, which came to light in January 2021, revealed a pattern of disturbing behavior that has led to serious legal consequences.

Police officers executed a search warrant at Smith's residence in Port Talbot following intelligence gathered from a paedophile hunter group. The authorities arrived at his home in October of the previous year, acting on allegations related to child grooming and the possession of illicit material. During the search, officers confiscated multiple devices, including a mobile phone, a laptop, and a PlayStation console, which Smith had handed over voluntarily.

Further investigation uncovered a troubling scene within his home. Smith was found to be using a bedroom for the cultivation of cannabis, having set up a small-scale grow operation complete with tents, lamps, filters, and a hydroponic feeding system. Police recovered five live cannabis plants and three harvested ones, indicating a modest but knowledgeable setup. The court was informed that Smith had invested approximately £1,000 in the equipment and an additional £60 on seeds. He claimed to use the cannabis to make edible cakes to help manage his low mood and lack of focus.

Among the more disturbing discoveries was a doll-sized sex doll, which Smith admitted he used while watching online pornography. The following day, as officers dismantled the cannabis grow operation, they returned to the bedroom and heard a ringing phone. Upon investigation, they found another mobile device on the external window sill, which Smith had failed to disclose. Examination of this phone revealed two videos depicting child abuse, stored in a hidden folder. One of these videos, over six minutes long, showed a toddler aged between two and four being raped, a deeply troubling and illegal image.

In police interviews, Smith admitted that he had learned how to grow cannabis through online videos and had spent around £1,000 on equipment and £60 on seeds. He explained that he used the cannabis to produce edible cakes to treat his depression and concentration issues. Regarding the child abuse material, Smith confirmed that he possessed indecent images and videos of children, which he had kept hidden on his devices.

Smith, who resides on Vivian Park Drive in the Sandfields area of Port Talbot, had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing indecent images and one count of producing cannabis. His prior convictions date back to 2016 and 2017, when police found indecent images on his phone during investigations into earlier allegations. In 2017, he was sentenced to 15 months in prison, suspended for two years, and was ordered to complete a rehabilitation program. During that period, authorities also discovered that Smith had engaged in Skype video chats discussing the sexual abuse of children.

Judge Paul Thomas QC expressed grave concern over Smith’s repeated offenses, noting that he had now been found in possession of indecent material on three separate occasions. Given his criminal history and the nature of his offenses, the judge concluded that there was no prospect of rehabilitation and sentenced him to nine months in prison. The sentence was reduced slightly to account for his guilty pleas—one quarter for the indecent images and one third for the cannabis-related offense. Smith is expected to serve up to half of this sentence in custody before being released on license, with the remainder to be served in the community.

Additionally, Smith will be registered as a sex offender for the next ten years and subject to a sexual harm prevention order that restricts his access to the internet for the same period. The judge warned him that any future similar offending would result in a lengthy prison term. Although the initial grooming charge was later discontinued, the case highlights the ongoing concerns about child exploitation and illegal drug cultivation in the Port Talbot area.