Keith Smith, 72, found himself in an awkward situation when a member of the public caught him looking at pornography on a library computer. The incident occurred while he had his iPhone plugged into the computer and was sitting next to a young girl, as revealed in Manchester Crown Court.
Claiming he had received a ‘bad email,’ Smith tried to explain his actions but refused to provide his phone for analysis when asked by the police. Despite admitting to breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order imposed in 2011, he managed to avoid additional charges.
His barrister, Naomi Duckworth, shed light on Smith’s actions, attributing them to poor judgment. However, Judge Hilary Manley emphasized the seriousness of such breaches and handed Smith a suspended jail term along with specific requirements to fulfill.
The court proceedings detailed Smith’s history of offenses, primarily related to sex offenses. Despite suffering from anxiety and depression, Smith’s actions were deemed unacceptable by the court. In the end, he was given a suspended jail term, rehabilitation requirements, and court costs to pay.