JOHN SMALE FROM RADCLIFFE SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES INVOLVING PAEDOPHILE HUNTERS

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Radcliffe, John Smale, a 53-year-old man, has been sentenced to prison after engaging in a series of alarming online interactions with individuals he believed to be underage girls. The incident unfolded over a span of just over two months, during which Smale used various mobile chat applications to communicate with what he thought were teenage girls, but who were actually members of vigilant groups dedicated to catching online predators.

Between November 12 of the previous year and January 8, Smale initiated conversations with these individuals, adopting false identities and engaging in explicit discussions about sex. He asked the supposed minors to perform sexual acts on themselves and sent them explicit images and videos of himself, including naked photographs. The conversations revealed a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior, with Smale showing a clear intent to exploit what he believed were vulnerable young girls.

During the court proceedings at Manchester Minshull Street Court, it was revealed that Smale initially communicated via the WhatLog app before switching to WhatsApp. As the exchanges progressed, he transitioned from using pseudonyms to revealing his real name and even provided his home address and postcode, which facilitated the paedophile hunters' subsequent actions.

Members of the vigilante groups, having identified Smale as the individual behind the messages, visited his residence in Radcliffe. After confirming his identity, they contacted the police, leading to his arrest. During police interviews, Smale initially claimed innocence, asserting that his phone had been hacked. However, following the seizure of his device and a search of his home, he admitted to the police that he was unemployed due to health issues and was suffering from depression. Despite these admissions, he struggled to provide a coherent explanation for his actions.

In addition to denying any sexual interest in children, Smale told the probation service that he was not attracted to minors. Nevertheless, Judge Sophie McKone dismissed these claims, emphasizing that his actions clearly demonstrated a sexual interest in children. Smale faced multiple charges, ultimately pleading guilty to 16 out of 17 child sex offences, with one charge remaining on file.

During sentencing, Judge McKone expressed her condemnation of Smale’s behavior, stating, “It is clear that you engaged in that behaviour with people who you believed and wanted to be children in your sexual interest.” She sentenced him to 18 months in prison and also imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for a period of ten years, aiming to prevent any future offending and protect the community from similar threats.