DOUGLAS SMITH FROM AYLESBURY AND NORTH SHIELDS CAUGHT IN SHOCKING ONLINE GROOMING AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CASES
| Red Rose Database
Aylesbury North Shields Child Sexual Abuser
In a disturbing series of events spanning multiple years, Douglas Smith, a man with connections to both Aylesbury and North Shields, has been involved in serious criminal activities related to child exploitation and possession of indecent images of minors.
In August 2016, Smith, then 56 years old and residing in North Shields, Tyne and Wear, was caught in a covert operation conducted by the online paedophile hunting group Dark Justice. The group had been engaging with him through social media, where he believed he was communicating with a 13-year-old girl. Smith had initiated conversations on Facebook, during which he expressed affection, calling her 'sexy' and complimenting her smile. He also made inappropriate comments about his own physical attributes, indicating a desire to meet her for sexual purposes.
Unaware that he was speaking to members of Dark Justice, who pose as minors online to catch offenders, Smith arranged to meet the girl at Newcastle Central Station. When he arrived at the designated meeting point, he was confronted by the group members, who had been secretly filming the encounter. Smith's intentions were clear, as he had previously been on the Sex Offenders Register following an earlier conviction for viewing indecent images of children.
During the five-day online exchange, Smith repeatedly expressed his love for the girl and showed a disturbing level of familiarity with sexual topics. Prosecutor Rachael Landin detailed that Smith responded to questions about whether their meeting would cause him harm by mentioning the size of his penis, further emphasizing his inappropriate focus on sexual activity with a minor.
Following his arrest at the scene, Smith was taken into custody. He subsequently pleaded guilty to charges of attempting to meet a child for sexual purposes after grooming her, as well as breaching the terms of his sex offender registration by failing to inform authorities of his current residence. The court heard that Smith had no genuine insight into the potential harm his actions could cause, and the judge expressed deep concern over his continued predatory behavior despite previous interventions.
Judge Jeremy Freedman sentenced Smith to a prison term of one year and eight months. Additionally, he was ordered to serve an extended license period upon release and to remain on the Sex Offenders Register for life. The judge emphasized the seriousness of Smith's intentions, stating that he clearly aimed to engage in full sexual intercourse with the minor, despite believing she was only 13 years old and inexperienced.
In a separate case dating back to January 2013, Smith, then 52 and living on Fowler Road in Aylesbury, was convicted of possessing over 200 indecent images of children. Police investigations revealed that Smith was already serving a suspended sentence for similar offenses when they uncovered his latest illegal activities. The suspicion arose when Smith asked a friend to wipe his computer, intending to sell it, prompting further scrutiny.
Authorities found that Smith's devices—two computers and a smartphone—contained a total of 201 indecent images of minors under 18. Although he had previously attended a rehabilitation program after his initial conviction in 2010, evidence showed that he resumed downloading illegal images shortly after completing the program. As a result, Oxford Crown Court sentenced him to two years in prison. Smith was also ordered to be on the sex offenders register for ten years, reflecting the gravity of his repeated offenses and failure to reform.
These cases highlight the ongoing threat posed by individuals like Douglas Smith, whose actions continue to endanger vulnerable minors and undermine community safety. Authorities remain vigilant in pursuing such offenders and ensuring they face appropriate legal consequences.
In August 2016, Smith, then 56 years old and residing in North Shields, Tyne and Wear, was caught in a covert operation conducted by the online paedophile hunting group Dark Justice. The group had been engaging with him through social media, where he believed he was communicating with a 13-year-old girl. Smith had initiated conversations on Facebook, during which he expressed affection, calling her 'sexy' and complimenting her smile. He also made inappropriate comments about his own physical attributes, indicating a desire to meet her for sexual purposes.
Unaware that he was speaking to members of Dark Justice, who pose as minors online to catch offenders, Smith arranged to meet the girl at Newcastle Central Station. When he arrived at the designated meeting point, he was confronted by the group members, who had been secretly filming the encounter. Smith's intentions were clear, as he had previously been on the Sex Offenders Register following an earlier conviction for viewing indecent images of children.
During the five-day online exchange, Smith repeatedly expressed his love for the girl and showed a disturbing level of familiarity with sexual topics. Prosecutor Rachael Landin detailed that Smith responded to questions about whether their meeting would cause him harm by mentioning the size of his penis, further emphasizing his inappropriate focus on sexual activity with a minor.
Following his arrest at the scene, Smith was taken into custody. He subsequently pleaded guilty to charges of attempting to meet a child for sexual purposes after grooming her, as well as breaching the terms of his sex offender registration by failing to inform authorities of his current residence. The court heard that Smith had no genuine insight into the potential harm his actions could cause, and the judge expressed deep concern over his continued predatory behavior despite previous interventions.
Judge Jeremy Freedman sentenced Smith to a prison term of one year and eight months. Additionally, he was ordered to serve an extended license period upon release and to remain on the Sex Offenders Register for life. The judge emphasized the seriousness of Smith's intentions, stating that he clearly aimed to engage in full sexual intercourse with the minor, despite believing she was only 13 years old and inexperienced.
In a separate case dating back to January 2013, Smith, then 52 and living on Fowler Road in Aylesbury, was convicted of possessing over 200 indecent images of children. Police investigations revealed that Smith was already serving a suspended sentence for similar offenses when they uncovered his latest illegal activities. The suspicion arose when Smith asked a friend to wipe his computer, intending to sell it, prompting further scrutiny.
Authorities found that Smith's devices—two computers and a smartphone—contained a total of 201 indecent images of minors under 18. Although he had previously attended a rehabilitation program after his initial conviction in 2010, evidence showed that he resumed downloading illegal images shortly after completing the program. As a result, Oxford Crown Court sentenced him to two years in prison. Smith was also ordered to be on the sex offenders register for ten years, reflecting the gravity of his repeated offenses and failure to reform.
These cases highlight the ongoing threat posed by individuals like Douglas Smith, whose actions continue to endanger vulnerable minors and undermine community safety. Authorities remain vigilant in pursuing such offenders and ensuring they face appropriate legal consequences.