Keith Smith, 72, found himself in an awkward situation when a member of the public caught him viewing 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.
When confronted about the explicit images, Smith claimed he had received a ‘bad email’. Despite his explanation, he was identified through library records, but refused to hand over his phone for analysis. Prosecutor Olivia Gatfield mentioned that Smith had breached a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) imposed in 2011 due to previous offenses involving indecent images of children.
His barrister, Naomi Duckworth, explained that Smith did not own a smartphone and had borrowed a friend’s phone to take pictures of gas and electric meters. Concerned about involving his friend with the police, Smith refused to provide their details. Despite showing poor judgment, Smith was not charged for the incident, only for breaching the SHPO.
Judge Hilary Manley handed Smith a suspended jail term, emphasizing the seriousness of breaching such orders. The court heard that Smith had a history of convictions for sex offenses, with most of them related to such crimes.
Overall, the incident highlighted the importance of following court orders and the consequences of breaching them. Smith was given specific requirements to fulfill as part of his sentence, including completing an accredited program and rehabilitation activities, along with paying court costs.