JAMES SMITH SHOCKS LOUGHBOROUGH WITH CHILD PORNOGRAPHY SCANDAL

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Loughborough, James Smith, a local youth sports coach, was found to possess an extensive collection of indecent images of children, including illegal footage, on his personal computer equipment. The revelation came to light in May 2020, when authorities uncovered the disturbing material during an investigation prompted by concerns from Smith's own family.

James Smith, aged 28 and residing on Tiverton Road in Loughborough, had previously been involved in coaching football and basketball, working with various local teams and initiatives under the banner of the Nova Sports Foundation. His involvement in the community had been well-known, and he was considered a dedicated sports coach. However, his reputation was shattered when the extent of his online activities was revealed.

The case was brought before Leicester Crown Court, where it was disclosed that Smith had accessed and downloaded more than 18,000 indecent images of children from the dark web. Among these were 55 hours of illegal footage, including 262 moving images in the most serious category, which alone amounted to approximately 47 hours of footage. The images ranged in severity, with 1,904 classified as category B, of which 53 were moving images, and a staggering 14,206 in category C, including 33 video clips. Additionally, Smith admitted to possessing 32 prohibited images.

Prosecutor Gary Short explained that the investigation was initiated after Smith's family expressed concern for his well-being, fearing he might be suicidal, following his disappearance in January. When officers arrived at Smith's home, they examined his laptop and discovered the illicit material. The police found that Smith had set up a company involved in teaching football and basketball within a school environment, raising concerns about his access to children, despite no allegations of physical contact or abuse involving minors.

Upon his return home, Smith was arrested and immediately expressed remorse, telling officers,