66 year old man sentenced for possessing indecent images of children

A 66-year-old man from Charmouth has been sentenced at Weymouth Magistrates’ Court after admitting charges relating to indecent images of children.

Graeme Smart, of Charmouth, appeared before the court for sentencing after pleading guilty to two counts of possessing indecent photographs and pseudo-photographs of children.

In November 2022, Dorset Police’s Online Paedophile Unit received intelligence suggesting that Smart was in possession of indecent images of children. As a result, officers attended his address on 1 December 2022.

During the visit, Smart told police that the images were stored on a laptop located on his bed. He was subsequently arrested, and officers seized the laptop along with several other electronic devices.

Investigations found indecent images on two of Smart’s devices. The court heard that some of the images had been digitally created by Smart himself. An examination revealed a total of 1,012 still and moving images classed as Category C, as well as seven still and moving images of children categorised as Category B. Indecent images are graded from Category A to C, with Category A representing the most serious offences.

Smart entered guilty pleas on 24 September, and the case was adjourned until 18 December to allow for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

At sentencing, the magistrates imposed a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which includes 19 prohibitions designed to restrict Smart’s behaviour and manage the risk of harm. The court also ordered that his electronic devices be destroyed.

In addition, Smart was made subject to a 12-month community order, which includes a requirement to complete 40 rehabilitation activity days and 120 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £85 in costs and a victim surcharge of £114, bringing the total financial penalty to £199.