FRANK SMITH FROM HARTLEPOOL AND SUNDERLAND JAILED FOR SEX OFFENSES AND INTERNET CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

In a series of disturbing criminal cases spanning Hartlepool, Sunderland, and beyond, Frank Smith, aged 31, has been sentenced to a further 40 months in prison for failing to adhere to the strict conditions imposed after his previous conviction. Smith’s criminal history is grave, beginning with a three-year sentence handed down at Teesside Crown Court in May 2012, when he was found guilty of grooming a 15-year-old girl and engaging in sexual relations with her, alongside downloading indecent images of children from the internet.

Following his release from prison in May of the previous year, Smith was legally required to register as a sex offender for life and was subject to an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order. Despite these legal obligations, Durham Crown Court heard that Smith moved from his family home in Blackhall Colliery, County Durham, to Baxter Road, Town End Farm, Sunderland, within months of his release. He failed to notify police monitoring officers of his change of address, even after securing employment at the nearby Nissan motor manufacturing plant, which was a breach of his legal requirements.

Further investigations revealed that Smith had uploaded 17 indecent images to an internet chat room, some of which included disturbing footage of a girl aged between six and eight being sexually abused by an adult male. Police recovered conversations in which Smith boasted about having sexual relations with girls aged 13 and 15, the latter of whom he had previously been jailed for abusing. In one of these messages, he expressed disdain for the girl, claiming she “jumped on the Jimmy Savile bandwagon,” in an apparent attempt to gain compensation.

On the day of his scheduled trial last month, Smith admitted to breaching his registration requirements and distributing indecent images, despite previously denying the charges. His defense lawyer, Jonathan Walker, stated that Smith had been attempting to turn over a new leaf and distance himself from his past offenses, but admitted that he had lapsed during a period of boredom. Judge Simon Hickey, presiding over the case, condemned Smith’s concerning background and noted that he still appeared to have a sexual proclivity for material involving children being exploited.

Looking back at Smith’s earlier conviction in May 2012, he was described as a pervert who had groomed a schoolgirl after meeting her online. The court was told that Smith, then 27, persuaded the underage girl to engage in sexual acts with him on more than a dozen occasions, taking explicit photographs of her and storing them on his mobile phone. Police investigations uncovered additional indecent images of other children and messages in which Smith fantasized about abducting and sexually abusing a child.

Prosecutor Ian Mullarkey highlighted that the girl had explicitly told Smith she was underage, yet he continued to pursue the relationship. Smith’s contact with her was initiated through text messages before they met in person for sexual activity. The victim later described how she felt groomed and exploited by Smith, who took advantage of her youth.

Smith was arrested after his brother discovered suspicious text messages on an old mobile phone while Smith was staying with him in Hartlepool. Police found 21 photographs of the girl, along with 12 indecent images of other children and explicit messages where Smith fantasized about abducting and abusing a child. Authorities were able to trace the victim’s identity from details on the phone.

During court proceedings, Smith admitted to using social media platforms like Facebook to meet women and exchange messages. He pleaded guilty to charges of meeting a child following sexual grooming, creating indecent photographs of children, and engaging in sexual activity with a minor. His defense attorney, Jim Withyman, argued that the offenses occurred when Smith was immature and that there was no ongoing abuse. He emphasized that Smith had recognized his mistakes and had attempted to contribute positively to society by working with the Prince’s Trust charity.

Judge Tony Briggs sentenced Smith to three years in prison for his earlier offenses, stating, “You effectively met and groomed a girl, conducted a sexual relationship with her on a number of occasions, and during the course of that, photographed her. That is a serious matter. I regret that custody is inevitable.”