Paedophile jailed for child sex offences after police raid house.

Leeds Man Jailed for Child Sex Offences

A Leeds man has been jailed after pleading guilty to ten child sex offences.

Simon Macfarlane-Smith, 43, from Tealbeck Approach, Otley, was charged with ten offences, including:

• Three offences of making indecent images of children
• Three offences of sexual communication with a child
• Three offences of causing a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity
• One offence of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child

The investigation began in December 2020 when West Yorkshire Police received information indicating the user of an IP address was sharing images of indecent children. A warrant was executed at Macfarlane-Smith's address, and numerous items were seized. Devices were sent to the digital forensic unit, where hundreds of indecent images dating from December 2012 to February 2021 were found.

The police also found evidence of Macfarlane-Smith engaging in sexual communication with a child. These communications took place between January 2021 and February 2021.

On Monday, June 19, 2023, Macfarlane-Smith was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court to 40 months in jail. He was also given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and must sign on the sex offenders register for life.

Police Constable Kate Davis of Bradford District's Policing Online Investigation team said: "Macfarlane Smith is a dangerous sexual predator. He went to extreme lengths to cover up his activities and his intentions to cause serious harm to children. We hope this sentence sends a clear message that we take all reports of online activity seriously and we are committed to protecting children from sexual abuse."