Retired Low Fell firefighter caught with vile child sexual abuse images
Jeffrey Smith's impeccable reputation is in tatters after he downloaded the disgusting material over a seven-year period
by Sara Nichol · ChronicleLiveA retired firefighter's "impeccable" reputation is in tatters after he was caught with a vile stash of child sexual abuse images.
Jeffrey Smith had led an exemplary life in the fire service until he retired and was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. A court heard that the condition had a serious affect on the 60-year-old and his wife and he became isolated and turned to booze and online pornography.
However, over a seven year period, he had also secretly downloaded disgusting images and videos of youngsters. His revolting stash and sordid secret were uncovered when police seized his electronic devices, Newcastle Magistrates' Court was told.
Now, Smith, of Calderwood Crescent, in Low Fell, Gateshead, has been given a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, after he pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children. Paul Anderson, prosecuting, said the offences happened between October 2016 and June 2023.
Mr Anderson continued: "He had 10 category A images and four videos, 18 category B images and one video and 24 category C images. He entered a guilty plea at the first opportunity."
Mark Harrison, defending, said Smith had been diagnosed with Parkinson's almost immediately after he retired and he and his wife split up. Mr Harrison added: "During this period, he was both drinking and accessing pornography. He became involved, stupidly, in chat areas online and he tells the court, through me, that there was almost a constant stream of pornography scrolling down his monitor screen."
The solicitor said Smith was remorseful and thoroughly ashamed of his behaviour. Also ordering him to sign the Sex Offenders' Register for 10 years and making him subject of a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, District Judge Paul Currer said: "These offences are exceptionally serious, however, you have pleaded guilty to them and I will give you credit for that.
"You have expressed remorse and understanding regarding the seriousness of these offences and how the fact you viewed these images makes you explicit to the type of offending that occurred against these children in the first place."
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