In 2018, the Offender Database recorded that 41-year-old Nicholas Simon Smith—a married father-of-one from Bollington—was jailed for possessing a “repulsive” 171-page paedophile manual and over 10,000 indecent images of children. Smith appeared at Chester Crown Court following a police raid on his home in February 2017, where officers seized a computer and USB sticks containing thousands of illegal files. It was reported that the investigation established Smith had amassed a collection that included 133 Category A images, 391 Category B images, and 10,313 Category C images.
The investigation established that among the recovered documents was a step-by-step guide titled “How To Practise Child Love – A Paedo’s Guide,” which the judge described as “absolutely repulsive.” The prosecution reported that Smith’s collection had been gathered over a period of more than 10 years, beginning in his mid-to-late 20s. Chester Crown Court heard that Smith admitted his offending became increasingly frequent and “compulsive” over time, specifically seeking out material featuring girls aged around 10 or 11.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Smith attempted to blame “family and work pressures” for his persistent consumption of child abuse material. The investigation established that Smith pleaded guilty to seven counts of possessing indecent images, possession of the manual, and possession of extreme pornography. The prosecution reported that the manual was particularly concerning as it billed itself as a “step-by-step guide” on how to engage in illegal activity with children, indicating a deep level of “predatory grooming” within Smith’s digital library.
Judge-led proceedings at Chester Crown Court concluded with Judge David Hale sentencing Smith to 16 months in prison. For his actions in Bollington and the “industrial scale” of his collection, he was taken into immediate custody. The judge noted that the combination of the manual, the volume of images, and the decade-long duration of the offending left him with no alternative to a custodial sentence to ensure public protection.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the records reported in Cheshire and Bollington, the status of Nicholas Simon Smith as of April 9, 2026, was as follows:
- Custodial Status: RELEASED ON LICENCE (Sentenced to 16 months in 2018; served custodial term; currently under community supervision or completed licence).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active for 10 years (Until 2028).
- SHPO Status: Subject to a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (Active until 2028; including strict digital monitoring and a ban on possessing undeclared storage devices).
- DBS Status: Placed on the Barring List (Indefinite ban on working with children).
- Legal Status: CONVICTED (Possession of indecent images x7; Possession of a paedophile manual; Possession of extreme pornography).
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Chester Crown Court; investigated by Cheshire Constabulary.
- Criminal Record: Possessed 10,837 illegal images; Collected material for over 10 years; Targeted girls aged 10-11; Owned a 171-page “instructional” manual.
- Origin: Bollington, Cheshire.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Smith is managed as a high-risk registered sex offender within the Cheshire area. Due to the nature of his conduct—specifically his “long-term compulsive behaviour” and his “possession of instructional abuse material”—his management is a priority for the Cheshire Constabulary Public Protection Unit. Authorities state that the recovery of the “paedophile manual” identifies him as an individual who requires the most intensive tier of digital monitoring to ensure he is not attempting to put those “step-by-step” instructions into practice.
As a registered sex offender until 2028, the 49-year-old’s details are permanently logged on the national police database. Authorities state that his 10-year SHPO is a vital safeguard, providing police with the power to conduct unannounced forensic inspections of his internet-enabled devices and USB sticks. Any change of residence in Bollington or elsewhere, any failure to disclose hardware, or any unauthorised proximity to children will result in immediate arrest to ensure the ongoing safety of the public from a man who demonstrated a persistent and “compulsive intent” to consume and study child abuse material.
QUESTION – Given that the offender possessed an “instructional manual” alongside 10,000 images, do you believe that “Possession of Instructional Material” should trigger a mandatory minimum 10-year prison sentence to prevent offenders from moving from consumption to physical contact?
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