South Shields sex offender breached restrictions to visit girlfriend in Scotland

Daniel Smith is subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and on the Sex Offenders register until 2025 after trying to have illegal contact with children, but being snared by undercover groups Dark Justice and Guardians of the North.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the 23-year-old is forbidden from having any contact with youngsters under the age of 16 as result of the orders, which were imposed in 2018.

But prosecutor Neil Pallister said Smith confessed during a conversation with his risk management officer in March this year that he was in contact with a woman north of the border.

The woman, who had a young baby, was spoken to by police in Scotland and said she knew nothing about his convictions and admitted Smith, who she met on social media site Badoo, had stayed at her home, where she lives with the child.

Mr Pallister said Smith was arrested and his phones, containing email messages to the woman, were seized.

He added: "On February 21 there were email exchanges clearly indicating he was on his way to Scotland by train to visit her.

"The visit lasted until February 24, when there were further messages, thanking her for having him, stating he had had a good time."

Mr Pallister said the messages showed Smith had spent time with the woman and her child during the visit.

And an inspection of the phones revealed he had deleted his internet history and used nicknames online, both of which he is banned from doing.

Smith, of Chichester Road, South Shields, admitted two offences of breach of a sexual harm prevention order and one of failing to comply with notification requirements.

The court heard he has spent two months in custody since his arrest.

Judge Sarah Mallett sentenced him to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

The judge told him: "You had already been given advice you should not be chatting to females with children.

"This female was contacted and she said she had met you initially two or three years ago on Badoo and said you had visited her home address.

"She wasn't willing to assist the police so there is no statement from her.

"You admitted you had been to Scotland to stay with a female who had a baby."

Judge Mallett said Smith could be given "the benefit of the doubt" that further intervention would help him continue to make progress.

Paul Caulfield, defending, said Smith is "extremely vulnerable and immature" and added: "He is a young man who lacks sophistication.

"Even by the method by which the investigation started, by him telling the police that he was in touch with a woman in Scotland."

Mr Caulfield said Smith has found his time in custody "extremely difficult".

In 2015 Smith thought he had been chatting online to a youngster called 'Zoe' but had been duped by Dark Justice, an undercover organisation whose members pose as children on the internet to snare predators.

When he turned up to meet the 13-year-old at Times Square in Newcastle, after sending a series of illicit messages, asking for "naughty photographs" and carrying a bottle of gin for them to share, he was confronted by members of the group, who had alerted the police.

Smith, who had been repeatedly told 'Zoe's' tender age during the chats, was arrested and allowed to keep his freedom while his case progressed through the crown court.

While on bail, Smith then started another series of online conversations with who he thought was a 14-year-old girl called 'Louise' but had once again been duped.

This time, the underage profile had been set up by Guardians of the North, a similar group of paedophile hunters.

No meeting was arranged but Smith asked again if they could meet up, requested photographs and described in graphic detail what he would like to do with the child.

He was given a community order, alongside the Sexual Harm Prevention Order and sex offender registration when he was sentenced for the offences in 2018.

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