By Grâçia Ada Obi
A pervert who sent a 15-year-old girl money for indecent images is struggling to cope with his vile sexual interest in children, a court heard. Kieron Smith became a registered sex offender last year after receiving a court caution in connection with the possession of indecent images of children.
When he received an unannounced police visit at his address on September 2, the 23-year-old, who now resides in Truro, invited them in and admitted not coping well with his sexual urges towards children.
At a sentencing hearing at Truro Crown Court today Thursday, October 17, it was heard how Smith volunteered to tell police officers that day that he had been accessing videos online and also had been in communication with a 15-year-old girl and even sent her money asking that she sends him sex pictures of herself. There is no suggestion the girl ever did.
The court was also told when the officers from Devon and Cornwall Police looked at the content of his phone and the conversation with the teenage girl, he had sent her sexualised messages including one where he said he wanted her to be his “fuck toy”.
Smith was subsequently arrested and charged with one count of engaging in sexual communication with a child for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification, to which he pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.
Addressing the court, a member of the probation team said Smith had taken full responsibility for his actions and not shied away from it. They added: “He disclosed to the police that he was struggling with his sexual thoughts and admitted contacting a 15-year-old girl and paid for pictures. He wants help and support.”
Recorder Elisabeth Bussey-Jones said Smith’s offence of seeking out and soliciting sexual images of children was very serious but also took into consideration his frank admission that he has a problem. She said Smith has a mental disorder and learning difficulties and lives an isolated life but has shown remorse and wanted help.
For the offence, he was sentenced to a three-year community order with 40 sessions of the New Me Strengths programme along with 10 days of rehabilitation activity requirement and 12 mental health requirement days.
Smith will also be on the sex offenders register for five years and had a sexual harm prevention order imposed for five years. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £114.
