LEVI SIMIC FROM MANCHESTER ESCAPES JAIL AFTER BEING CAUGHT WITH CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IMAGES
In a case that has shocked the local community in Manchester, Levi Simic, a 22-year-old former prison officer, narrowly avoided serving a second prison sentence after being found in possession of indecent images of children on his mobile device.The incident has raised serious concerns about the safety and integrity of individuals working within the criminal justice system.
Simic's criminal activities came to light after an investigation into his conduct at the prison where he was employed.
It was revealed that he had managed to smuggle two mobile phones into the facility in 2019, an act that led to his dismissal from the Sodexo-run prison in Salford.
The discovery of the phones occurred when he was caught at the start of his duty, with two iPhones concealed in his work boots.
This breach of security prompted a thorough investigation, including a search of his personal vehicle and the seizure of his own iPhone.
Prosecutors, led by Mark Brookes, explained that the investigation aimed to uncover any communication related to the smuggling operation.
When the contents of Simic's phone were examined, authorities found a disturbing collection of indecent images of children.
These images, some classified as the most serious category, were not only stored on his device but also shared with others through messaging platforms.
Three of these images had been forwarded to third parties, further aggravating the severity of the case.
During police interviews, Simic claimed that the images had been sent to him via WhatsApp and insisted that he had not actively sought or shared such material.
He stated that he was part of WhatsApp group chats where these images were circulated, and he claimed to have done nothing with them.
Brookes noted that Simic argued the images were exchanged for amusement rather than for sexual gratification, a claim the prosecution did not accept as mitigating the seriousness of the offences.
On September 1, at Manchester Crown Court, Levi Simic pleaded guilty to multiple charges related to possessing and sharing indecent images of children.
The court was informed that the images found on his phone included some of the most serious types, and that he had forwarded three of these images to others.
The judge considered his previous conduct and the circumstances of the case before passing sentence.
Rather than imprisonment, the court imposed a two-year community order on Simic.
As part of his sentence, he was ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid work and to participate in the iHorizon programme, which is designed to work with male internet sex offenders.
Additionally, Simic was placed under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years.
This order restricts his ability to delete or hide his internet history and mandates that all his personal devices remain accessible for inspection by supervising officers, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his online activity.
The case has once again highlighted the importance of vigilance and strict oversight within institutions tasked with safeguarding the public, especially when individuals in positions of authority are involved.
