MISSING MADDY: His claim that he had found images of Madeleine McCann, who disappeared on a family holiday in Portugal on 3 May last year, led to police finding child porn on the laptop Bruce Robert Smith handed them.
A MAN told police he had found pictures of Madeleine McCann while surfing the internet.
But when they checked out the laptop Bruce Robert Smith brought into the station they found not missing Maddy, but child porn pictures and videos.
Smith had used special file-sharing software to download videos and images of children.
In the Royal Court, Smith, of no fixed abode, admitted 14 counts of possessing child pornography.
A search of Smith’s apartment had found copies of the videos and images on discs, examples of which were shown to the court.
The laptop belonged to Smith’s fiancee at the time, but she knew nothing of the contents.
Smith was said to have been so depressed at the time that he did not understand the results of going to the police, the court heard. He was deluded and believed his actions were those of a detective investigating crime.
Advocate Alan Merrien, defending, said that his client accepted that the offences and consequences were serious.
Probation reports referred to Smith’s actions as ‘a cry for help’. He knew that the laptop would be examined and that he would be caught.
The 11 jurats, with Deputy Bailiff Richard Collas presiding, sentenced Smith to a total of two-and-a-half years in prison with a further two-and-a-half years under licence. Smith is likely to be deported to his native South Africa during this extension period. Advocate Merrien indicated that his client would not resist that.
No further reference was made to Smith’s claims about Madeleine McCann.
Article posted on 20th June, 2008 - 4.40pm
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