DAVRIAN SMYTHE FROM BARNSTAPLE CAUGHT IN SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF 14-YEAR-OLD BOY

In November 2011, a disturbing case emerged involving a young man from Barnstaple who engaged in a sexual relationship with a minor he believed to be older. Davrian Smythe, aged 20 and residing on Walnut Way in Barnstaple, became the focus of a serious criminal investigation after it was revealed that he had initiated and maintained an inappropriate online relationship with a 14-year-old boy.

According to court proceedings at Exeter Crown Court, Smythe and the young boy exchanged a total of 178 pages of messages on Facebook over a period of less than four months. These messages detailed their ongoing communication and, eventually, their meetings for sexual encounters. The court was informed that Smythe initially believed the boy to be 16 years old when they first connected on a gay website. However, once they met in person, Smythe quickly realized the boy's true age, which was only 14, and yet he continued to pursue the relationship.

The relationship came to light after the boy ran away from home following an argument with his parents. Concerned, his parents checked his Facebook account and discovered the extensive correspondence with Smythe. The messages revealed a willing participant in the relationship, with evidence of sexual activity between the two. The police investigation was initiated in July after the boy was reported missing by his parents, who disclosed that he had told them he was gay during their argument. The police found the boy the following day, and during their inquiry, the parents' review of his Facebook account uncovered the incriminating messages.

Smythe faced multiple charges, ultimately admitting to five counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child. The court heard that Smythe's actions were characterized by naivety rather than predatory intent. His defense argued that he was young and inexperienced, and that the boy had initiated the sexual contact. Nigel Wraith, representing Smythe, emphasized that this case was not typical of an older individual seeking to exploit a minor for sexual purposes. Instead, he suggested that Smythe was perhaps more sexually naive than the young boy.

In sentencing, Recorder Andrew Langdon decided against imprisonment, citing Smythe's lack of predatory intent and his naivety. Instead, Smythe was ordered to participate in a sex offenders' rehabilitation program and was placed under a three-year supervision order. Additionally, he was prohibited from having any unsupervised contact with children for a period of five years. The court's decision aimed to balance the seriousness of the offenses with the recognition of Smythe's apparent lack of malicious intent, while also emphasizing the importance of supervision and preventative measures to protect minors in the future.