Lowestoft man jailed for having indecent images of children

Smith - already a registered sex offender - was arrested last year

30 year old Richard Smith
Author: Matt SoanesPublished 30th Mar 2023

A Lowestoft man has been jailed for over three years for having indecent images of children.

30 year old Richard Smith, of the High Street, was already a registered sex offender at the time of his arrest in November 2022.

Police interviewed Smith after discovering his use of a Snapchat account to upload indecent images in October 2022.

He admitted to possession of indecent photographs, namely 25 category A images, 68 category B images and 64 category C images.

He also admitted to making indecent photographs and possession of an extreme pornographic image, as well as breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

At sentencing at Ipswich Crown Court he was handed 3 and a half years behind bars. He will remain on the Sex Offenders' Register.

PC Nicola Flack from the Internet Child Abuse Investigation Team said: “This was clear and blatant disregard by Smith with regards to his Sexual Harm Prevention Order."

"This order was put in place by the judicial system to protect the public from predators like Smith.

"We are very satisfied with this sentence which I hope goes some way to reassure the public of the police stance when it comes to subjects of such orders.

“Internet crimes such as these are far from victimless and every image depicts the very real abuse a young child has suffered.

"We will do everything within our power to protect victims who are subjected to these potentially life changing acts of indecency purely for the gratification of others.”

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