Police speed camera operator who shared indecent images of children jailed

A police speed camera van worker who filmed children and teenagers and shared thousands of abuse images has been jailed.

Bradley Smith, 36, filmed a sleeping child and had possession of 3,500 indecent images of young people dating back to 2011, a court was told.

He recorded footage in a men’s changing room at a gym and filmed a teenager getting changed, York Crown Court was told. He has been sacked by North Yorkshire Police.

Smith, from York, was arrested on 6 February 2019 and suspended from duty.

Detective sergeant Lee Allenby, of North Yorkshire Police’s online abuse and exploitation team, said Smith uploaded two indecent images of children on his personal tablet on the same day he was arrested.

He said: “This showed how deeply he was embroiled in this depraved and secretive world. However, there is no evidence or suggestion that offences were committed using police equipment.”

Smith was caught out after information was sent to the force by the National Crime Agency.

North Yorkshire Police forensically examined smart phones, tablets and laptops to get evidence.

Smith appeared at York Crown Court on 10 February, where he pleaded guilty to making the indecent images of children.

He also admitted distributing images, taking an indecent picture of a child and eight counts of voyeurism, and was jailed for four years at York Crown Court on Monday.

Smith was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and put on the sex offenders’ register.

DS Allenby added: “When the evidence of his offending was presented to him during the investigation, Bradley Smith initially claimed he was only interested in adult pornography and that the indecent images of children were downloaded accidentally.

“However, we were able to prove beyond doubt that he is a serious offender and it is pleasing that he admitted his guilt at court. He is now facing up to the consequences of his sickening actions.

“This case shows that North Yorkshire Police is determined and equipped to secure justice in such a complex investigation.

“Also that we operate without fear or favour even when the suspect works for the same police force.”

An NSPCC spokesperson said: “Smith has fuelled an industry where children suffer the most horrific abuse for the sexual gratification of sickening individuals like him, who can access these images and videos in just a few clicks.”