Ex-police staff member jailed for indecent images of children and voyeurism in men's changing room

Bradley Paul Smith, 36, from York, worked as a safety camera van operator with North Yorkshire Police until he was arrested in 2019 and suspended from duty.

He no longer works for the force.

Numerous smart phones, tablets and laptops were examined after the National Crime Agency's Child Exploitation and Online Protection team supplied information to the force.

Inquiries revealed a large collection of indecent images of children going back to 2011, including those classified in the most extreme Category A.

Investigators also recovered numerous videos which Smith had filmed from inside the men’s changing room at a local gym, as well as a video of a teenager getting changed in a bedroom and a child asleep on a bed.

Smith admitted two counts of distributing indecent images, three counts of making indecent images, one count of taking an indecent image and eight counts of voyeurism at an earlier hearing.

He was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and and placed on the sex offenders’ register at a sentencing hearing at York Crown Court on Monday.

Detective Sergeant Lee Allenby, of the Online Abuse & Exploitation Team, said: “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.”

DS Allenby added: “A very concerning aspect of the investigation is that Smith, while still on police duties and on the same day of his arrest, had uploaded two Category A indecent images of children on his personal tablet device.

“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.

“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.”