City Finance Whizz Caught With Child Porn

A St Andrew's University graduate's lucrative financial career in the City was destroyed when police raided his flat and seized sick child porn images he had downloaded on his laptop.

Aberdeen-born Matthew Smith, 24, was suspended from his job advising the wealthy as to how best invest their riches and he returned to the family home.

Smith, of Charleston Crescent, Aberdeen has been an official ambassador for the last three years for the Saltire Foundation,  which awards internships all over the world to Scotland's brightest youngsters, and he is currently employed by independent financial advisors in his home town.

He pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court to thirteen charges of possessing indecent photographs of girls, aged between seven and twelve years-old, at his former flat in Shepherd's Bush Road, west London on May 25, last year.

Prosecutor Mr. Gavin Kirkpatrick told the court: "Police became aware that Mr. Smith may have accessed child pornography and executed a search warrant at his home.

"After a laptop that was seized was analysed he was arrested and interviewed and made no comment.

A total of fifty-seven images were found ranging from thirty-eight at Level One, three at Level 2, six at Level 3, nine at Level 4 and one at Level Five, the most extreme category of child pornography.

Smith's lawyer Mr. Nigel Richardson said: "He was born and bred in Aberdeen and after graduating from St. Andrew's University moved to London in September, twenty-eleven to work for financial advisors in the City.

"He was advising high net worth individuals. It was a well-paid and prized job."

Smith had landed a position with award-winning chartered independent financial advisors Saunderson House.

"After police seized his computer his company suspended him, but later agreed to take him back, but by then Mr. Smith had resigned from his post and returned to Aberdeen.

"His family were fairly shocked, but supportive."

Police originally charged Smith with possessing 1209 indecent images, but after instructing an expert, whose report concerning the approximate ages of the subjects was served on the Crown Prosecution Service, that amount was drastically reduced.

The court heard the defendant sought counselling with an organisation called 'Stop It Now' and had seen a sexual psycotherapist.

That expert's letter to the court read: "He has no sexual interest in children. His interest it towards adult women."

Judge Philip Matthews sentenced Smith to a three-year community order, which includes attending a community sex offenders group programme.

He was also ordered to perform 200 hours community service work and pay £500 costs.

Smith was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for five years and an indefinite sexual offenders prevention order was made, which requires him to make his internet history available to police inspection.

"The reason for the prohibition on possessing such images is understood by you and members of the public. Children as young as seven were used in such a fashion that is contrary to all civilised behaviour," the judge told him.

"The images were for your own personal sexual gratification. They were not shared or shown to anyone else.

"You are now in a good job and there are prospects that you will continue to have a successful career."