GRAEME SMITH FROM BISHOP AUCKLAND JAILED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES IN COUNTY DURHAM
In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Bishop Auckland, a man named Graeme Smith has been sentenced to a year in prison after being found guilty of possessing and downloading a significant number of indecent images of children.The incident came to light in February 2017 when police officers executed a search warrant at Smith's residence, uncovering a troubling collection of illicit material.
Smith, aged 39, was employed at the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), a government agency responsible for conducting background checks on individuals seeking employment involving children and vulnerable adults.
Ironically, despite his role in safeguarding children by preventing unsuitable individuals from working with them, he was secretly engaging in activities that exploited and harmed minors.
During the police investigation, it was revealed that Smith had downloaded over 1,000 illegal images, some depicting children as young as six years old.
An examination of his computer equipment uncovered a total of 1,076 illicit images, with 803 of these files having been deleted prior to the search.
The remaining 273 images included 36 classified as the most serious category, with 11 of them being moving images, which are considered particularly disturbing due to their explicit content.
Prosecutor Jonathan Harley explained to Durham Crown Court that Smith had posed as a 17-year-old girl named Sarah London on an online chat channel that describes itself as a platform for the “respectful appreciation of youthful beauty.” The channel allows users to discuss child exploitation, raising serious concerns about the nature of Smith’s online activities.
When questioned by police, Smith immediately admitted to downloading the indecent images, acknowledging his guilt.
Despite his employment at the DBS, authorities confirmed that he held an administrative position, which did not grant him access to any of the material he was found to possess.
Smith, who has no prior criminal record, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of a child, with offenses spanning from October 2003 to February 2017.
In light of his actions, the court imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which restricts his future use of computers and online devices “until further order.” Additionally, Smith is required to register as a sex offender for a period of ten years, underscoring the severity of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community of Bishop Auckland and beyond.
