Keith Smith, 72, found himself in a sticky situation when a member of the public caught him looking at questionable content on a library computer. The incident occurred while he had his iPhone plugged in, viewing images of semi-naked women next to a young girl.
Claiming he had received a ‘bad email’, Smith’s excuse didn’t quite hold up in court. Despite his refusal to hand over his phone for analysis, he admitted to breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order imposed in 2011.
His barrister explained that Smith, who doesn’t own a smartphone, borrowed a friend’s device to take pictures of gas and electric meters. Concerned about involving his friend with the police, he chose not to disclose their details.
Although Judge Hilary Manley handed down a suspended jail term, she emphasized the seriousness of Smith’s actions. With a history of sex offenses, his behavior was deemed to show poor judgment.
While no charges were brought against him other than for breaching the SHPO, Smith must now complete an accredited program, rehabilitation activities, and pay court costs. The incident serves as a reminder that breaches like this are taken seriously by the courts.