Courts / Dublin / Report
Father-of-four caught after schoolgirl posted Snapchat vid
Summary
John Smith, 59, was found guilty of inviting or coercing a child to engage in a sexual or indecent act after a 15‑year‑old schoolgirl recorded him masturbating in his van and posted the video on Snapchat. Smith had previously asked the girl for her phone number and later arranged a second meeting that evening. Gardaí were alerted when the girl's parents saw the Snapchat story. Smith pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to two years' imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions, including 12 months of probation. Smith, a married father of four, had a prior minor conviction for failing to pay a bus fare in 1992 and is registered as a sex offender. The court noted that Smith's behaviour was "totally out of character" and that he had expressed remorse. The case was heard with no physical contact or threat toward the girl.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Father-of-four caught after schoolgirl posted Snapchat vid. Charges or matters: inviting or coercing a child to engage in a sexual or indecent act on October 20, 2016. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- October 20, 2016 Incident
- 2019-12-17 Publication
Why: Sergeant Declan O'Sullivan told Fiona McGowan BL, prosecuting, that the girl told gardaí that she had agreed to meet Smith a second time because she wanted to get the details of his van. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: inviting or coercing a child to engage in a sexual or indecent act on October 20, 2016 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Nolan sentenced Smith to two years imprisonment, which he suspended in full on strict conditions including that the accused follow all directions of the Probation Service for 12 months.
Places mentioned
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