LEE SMITH FROM DAWLISH SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IMAGES IN UK AND UGANDA

A man from Dawlish, Devon, identified as Lee Smith, has been sentenced to prison after an extensive investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA) uncovered his possession and distribution of over 400 images and videos depicting child sexual abuse. The investigation revealed that Smith had stored these illicit materials across multiple devices, including phones, a laptop, and cloud storage accounts, all of which were recovered during the course of the inquiry.

Authorities confirmed that Smith had downloaded material classified as the most severe category of child sexual abuse images. Among the disturbing evidence was an indecent video filmed by Smith himself during a trip to Uganda, which showed children in vulnerable situations. This video was found on his mobile phone, which was seized during his arrest.

The NCA initiated its investigation in March 2023 after a foreign-based cloud storage provider reported suspicious activity. The provider had identified child abuse material on four separate accounts linked to a user in the United Kingdom. Following this report, NCA investigators began the process of tracing the accounts, which they quickly linked to Lee Smith. Further inquiries revealed that Smith had a prior conviction for indecent image offences dating back to 2006, for which he had received a suspended sentence.

Smith’s activities came under further scrutiny when he was stopped and questioned by Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport on June 8, 2023, upon his return from Uganda. During questioning, Smith claimed to have made 29 trips to Uganda, asserting that he was there to pay school fees for several Ugandan children. This explanation was passed on to the NCA, which continued its investigation.

On June 17, 2023, as Smith attempted to depart the UK on a flight to Denmark, NCA officers detained him on suspicion of possessing indecent images. During the arrest, they seized his mobile phone, which contained the video filmed in Uganda. The following day, Smith was formally charged and remanded in custody. While awaiting trial, authorities collaborated with Devon and Cornwall Police to search his two vehicles. The searches yielded 11 mobile phones, a laptop, and various storage devices, including hard drives, USB sticks, and micro SD cards.

Digital forensic experts meticulously examined the contents of these devices, uncovering hundreds more images and videos of child abuse. Despite initially denying any knowledge of the material and claiming that the devices and cloud accounts did not belong to him, Smith’s defenses crumbled under the weight of the evidence. He ultimately pleaded guilty to all charges at Isleworth Crown Court on May 20, 2024.

Senior NCA Investigating Officer Daniel Waywell emphasized the gravity of Smith’s crimes, stating, “Smith downloaded hundreds of images depicting just as many children being sexually abused. Every child in those images has suffered for the gratification of Smith and others like him. The cloud storage provider showed great responsibility in reporting their suspicions about the user accounts. Their action helped us stop Smith from continuing to create a demand for child sexual abuse content and from creating his own.”

On October 22, 2024, Smith was sentenced to four years in prison. Additionally, he was issued a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which restricts his online activities and interactions in the real world. He has also been placed on the sex offenders register for life. Authorities continue to urge the public to report any child sexual abuse content found online to the appropriate platforms and organizations such as the Internet Watch Foundation, which collaborates with the NCA and police to remove such material and protect vulnerable children.