Wrexham,North Wales - Loner from Johnstown distributed horrific child abuse images

Published date: 22 January 2016 | 

Published by: Staff reporter
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A MAN leading an isolated life became obsessed with the internet and distributed horrific images of child abuse.

 

The images and films he had involved the rape of children aged as young as three – and a two-year-old girl being tortured in an unimaginable way.

 

Philip Anthony Smith, 59, was jailed for two years yesterday and was ordered to register with the police as a sex offender for the next 10 years.

 

He was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for a decade.

A judge ordered that the prison authorities should be told of his self-harm and mental health issues.

 

Smith, of Moreton Avenue, Johnstown, pleaded guilty to 13 charges – three charges of making images by downloading them the internet, possessing 1,469 category A images, 857 category B and 1,397 category C images, three charges of making indecent movie images; a charge of possessing 1,090 class A movies, 523 class B movies and 215 category C movies; two charges of distribution, two charges of possessing extreme images involving sexual activity between humans and animals, and possessing a prohibited image of a child.

 

The judge, Mr Recorder Timothy Petts, sitting at Mold Crown Court, said some of the images were “absolutely horrific”.

 

He said: “We are talking about children as young as three, five and six being raped.

see-http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/157643/loner-from-johnstown-distributed-horrific-child-abuse-images.aspx

 

“We are talking about extreme child abuse where the children are clearly distressed and suffering.”

 

The judge said the case was aggravated by the fact that the evidence showed Smith had been searching for images of that nature.

 

He was a man of previous good character with health issues and it was clear he had suffered a dramatic decline in his mental health because of the proceedings hanging over him.

 

“But I am afraid that is entirely self-inflicted,” the judge said.

 

Prosecutor David Mainstone said some of the child sex abuse movies were particularly extreme. 

 

There were of a very distressing nature where children were tortured.

 

Police also found Skype chat logs involving exchanges with others sharing his interest. 

 

There was also evidence of him exchanging images, some at the worst category A.

 

Ceri Evans, defending, said her client was a man of good character who had worked hard all his life until ill-health meant he could not work for the last three to four years.

 

Smith had been happily married with children and grandchildren but he had lost his parents and the loss of his sister had a profound effect upon him, and he suffered mental health issues.

 

He had gone from an out-going hard working man to living a reclusive, lonely life.

 

Smith had been going onto the internet daily and the offences occurred in the new world that he encountered.

 

“That is how he spent his days,” she said. “He had become obsessed with the internet.”

 

Since his arrest he had made a lot of changes to his life, had been undergoing therapy and was receiving psychiatric help following an attempt on his own life.

 

He felt a heavy burden of guilt for his actions, said Miss Evans.

 

Ms Evans added his former wife and others had written a number of testimonials on his behalf.

see-http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/157642/cannabis-and-alcohol-use-led-to-buckley-man-s-row-with-mother.aspx