Published by Robert L Senior Reporter on Monday 31st March 2025, at 14:50hrs
Christopher Smith, 47, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison at Preston Crown Court for a series of disturbing sexual offences, including sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor online.
Smith, formerly of Douglas Place, Blackburn, was arrested on June 24, 2022, after an Online Child Abuse Activist Group (OCAAG) alerted authorities to his online activities.
The OCAAG reported that Smith had been messaging and sending sexually explicit images and videos to a profile he believed to be a 14-year-old girl.
Further investigation revealed that Smith had interacted with two other profiles managed by the OCAAG.
The investigation also uncovered that Smith had sexually assaulted a 12-year-old girl on multiple occasions years prior.
Additionally, in May 2023, he sent unsolicited sexual messages and videos to a woman on Snapchat.
Smith, who was of no fixed address at the time of sentencing, pleaded guilty to all charges, including attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, sexual assault, attempting to cause a child aged 13 to 15 to watch/look at an image of sexual activity, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, and sending communication/article of an indecent/offensive nature.
Judge presiding over the case deemed Smith a dangerous individual and sentenced him to six years in custody with an extended license period of four years.
He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.
Detective Constable Leanne Douglas expressed her gratitude to the victim for her courage in coming forward and seeing the case through to its conclusion.
“I would like to first and foremost commend the victim in this case for having the courage to come forward and report what happened to her all those years ago and for the strength to see these proceedings through to this point – I hope that she feels some sense of justice has been done,” she stated.
DC Douglas also emphasized the danger Smith posed to young girls, stating, “Smith is a dangerous individual who presents a danger to young girls because of his perverted sexual interests.
Offending of this nature has no place in society and we will do everything in our powers to put the perpetrators of it in prison.”
She also thanked the OCAAG for their swift action in reporting the matter to the police, preventing any loss of crucial evidence.
Authorities are urging anyone who has been a victim of a sexual offence or knows someone who has to report it online via https://orlo.uk/90Wpe or call 101. In cases of ongoing crimes, individuals are advised to call 999 immediately.
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