Brian David Smith

Brian David Smith, a 57-year-old man from Morecambe, Lancashire, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for a series of serious sexual offences against children. The case, which came to light through an undercover police operation, revealed Smith's long-standing predatory behaviour towards young girls.

In October 2019, Smith engaged in an online chat with an individual he believed to be a fellow paedophile, but who was actually an investigating officer from the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU). During this conversation, Smith openly admitted to sexually abusing a child. He further escalated the situation by having phone conversations with the officer and arranging to meet what he thought was a 12-year-old girl, with the explicit intention of taking her virginity. In November 2019, Smith travelled from his home in Morecambe to a pre-arranged location in the North East, where he was arrested by waiting NEROCU officers.

Upon arrest, Smith was found in possession of sex toys, sweets, and a mobile phone, items indicative of his planned intent. Later that day, officers from Lancashire Police’s Online Child Abuse Investigation Team searched his residence on Fairhope Avenue, Morecambe, and discovered indecent images of children along with extreme pornographic material on several electronic devices. Police investigations successfully traced the victim of Smith's historical abuse, who confirmed she was just eight years old when the abuse began. The abuse continued until the victim attempted to take her own life due to its devastating impact.

Smith appeared at Preston Crown Court on 19 January 2024, where he was convicted of rape, indecent assault, arranging or facilitating the commission of a sexual offence, and making indecent images of children. He received a 14-year custodial sentence, along with an extended three-year licence period. Additionally, he was subjected to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

PC Jill Woodley of Lancashire Police described Smith as 'a dangerous individual who has a long-standing and sordid sexual interest in young girls. He is a man who presents a very real danger to children, and I welcome the sentence handed down to him.' She praised the victim's bravery, noting the offences occurred several decades ago. Detective Inspector Leonard from NEROCU added, 'This is another fantastic result which reinforces our commitment to protecting all children from predators like Smith.' The operation highlighted the effectiveness of online policing in identifying and apprehending sex offenders.