Woman Caught Messaging Teen Despite Child Protection Ban
A 56-year-old woman banned from contacting children was caught messaging a 14-year-old girl on Instagram. Rachel Smith, from East Howdon, North Tyneside, was slapped with a sexual harm prevention order in 2018 after being found with indecent images of children.
Police Find Forbidden Instagram Chats
During a routine police check this summer, officers searched Smith’s phone and uncovered a string of messages between her and the teenage girl. The court heard the pair regularly swapped messages about school life, with some texts hinting the girl fancied both Smith and her school teacher.
Smith was told by the girl’s aunt to stop all contact once it emerged the girl was only 14—not 18 as Smith claimed. But the messages didn’t stop.
Heavy Criminal Past and New Sentence
Smith pleaded guilty to breaching the sexual harm prevention order. She was given a three-year community order, avoiding jail. Prosecutor Amy Levitt revealed Smith already had a record of 50 offences, including indecent assault dating back to 1994.
Judge Robert Spragg said Smith would be “vulnerable and easily exploited” in prison and ruled the community sentence was a better option for both her and the public.
