CLACTON MAN TONY SMITH'S SENTENCING DELAYED OVER INCONSISTENCY IN CHELMSFORD
In September 2017, the sentencing of Clacton man Tony Smith, who had admitted to possessing indecent images of children, was postponed.Smith, 27, pleaded guilty in August to three counts of creating indecent images of a child and one count of possessing a prohibited image of a child.
He appeared before Judge William Kennedy at Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday, September 14.
However, the hearing was halted upon discovering that Smith had previously told the probation service he had not committed the offences to which he pleaded guilty.
Judge Kennedy addressed Smith, stating he could not "have his cake and eat it too"—meaning he had to accept responsibility for his actions or proceed to trial.
After a brief adjournment, Smith's solicitor, Richard Conley, stated, "He fully accepts responsibility for the offences." The judge ordered Smith to meet with probation again to prepare a new report.
Smith was granted bail on the condition that he have no unsupervised contact with anyone under 18.
His next court appearance is scheduled for 9:30 a.m.
on Thursday, September 28.
