Lowestoft man Richard Smith jailed for string of offences relating to possession of indecent photos

A Lowestoft man has been jailed for more than three years for a string of offences relating to possession of indecent photos of children.

Richard Smith, 30 of High Street, was jailed at Ipswich Crown Court on Friday after pleading guilty to possession of indecent photographs, namely 25 category A images and/or movies of children, 68 category B images and/or movies, of children and 64 category C images and/or movies, of children.

He also pleaded guilty to making indecent photographs and possession of an extreme pornographic image and breach of SHPO (Sexual Harm Prevention Order)

Smith was a known registered sex offender serving a suspended sentence after previous convictions for making indecent images of children.

In October 2022, officers became aware that he was using a Snapchat account with an indecent video of a child uploaded to the internet.

Police attended his home address on November 29 and executed a warrant, which led to his arrest and subsequent charge.

He pleaded guilty, and also pleaded guilty to breach of SHPO (Sexual Harm Prevention Order)

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.”

For all of the offences he received a total custodial sentence of 42 months.