Perv is free
A pervert who downloaded nearly 15,000 indecent images of children has escaped jail. Richard Smith, who was caught thanks to his wife, was sentenced to 140 hours community service and placed on the sex offenders register for two years.
A mother who discovered her husband’s stash of child pornography says she is determined her daughter will have a bright future.
Richard Smith was sentenced to 140 hours’ community service and placed on the sex offenders register for two years after downloading 14,382 indecent images of children between 2012 and 2016.
Smith, 45, of Burnside, was sentenced at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Thursday, October 6, after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing.
His crimes were reported to police in July 2015 by his ex-wife June Smith, who found the images on computer hardware at the Cambuslang home they shared with June’s teenage daughter.
The pair had been married for just 16 months.
Speaking to the Reformer following the sentencing, June said it failed to recognise the impact Smith’s crimes had on innocent children, her and her daughter.
She said: “It’s horrible to see my daughter so upset, she was in a right state when I told her the sentence.
“I am appalled and disgusted at the criminal justice system, that someone could over a four- year period in a premeditated manner commit 15,000 crimes against innocent children.
“I think it is shocking the amount of time and effort that would have gone into the police investigation that this sick pervert is only served with 140 hours of community service.
“I also feel he should have been placed on the sex offenders register for a longer period than two years. Many people have committed crimes of a less sinister nature and been sent to prison.
“Other people I have spoken to, they are outraged this pervert has been given such a light sentence. It doesn’t send out the right message to other people thinking about carrying out these crimes.”
Despite the difficulty in accepting the sentence handed down to Smith, June said she and her daughter had received great help from Victim Support.
She said: “I am glad after what has been a very traumatic and stressful time that I have some closure.
“He has destroyed my life, his actions caused me so much hurt and distress, but I want to move on now.
“My priority obviously is my daughter. I have to be positive for her.
“She is clever girl and wants to go to university, I just want to look after her and give her a bright future.”
June’s daughter was aged eight to 15 throughout her six-year relationship with Smith - the same age as the children in the photographs she found when he left the family home.
Police forensically analysed hardware taken from their house to find 4,552 ‘level C’ images.
A search warrant was granted for Smith’s parents’ house in Burnside where more computer equipment was found to contain a further 9,830 ‘level C’ images.
There are various categories ranging from A to E with A being the most extreme.
Smith will be supervised two years and has been ordered to take part in a programme for sex offenders.
Many people have committed crimes of a less sinister nature and been sent to prison