In 2019, the Offender Database reported that John Smith, then 22, of School Way, Speke, Liverpool, was sentenced to 18 months in prison at Liverpool Crown Court. Smith, a “vile” and “predatory” junior football coach, abused his position of trust at Venny Junior Football Club in Speke, Merseyside. The investigation by Merseyside Police followed a “serious” trial where a jury found him guilty of three counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child, having used his roles at local youth clubs and as a volunteer scout for Everton’s Academy to access victims.
The court heard horrific details of how Smith utilised Snapchat to send naked pictures of his genitals to young players, believing the app’s auto-delete feature would hide his “vicious” trail. He targeted boys by offering extra one-to-one training sessions and later pestered them with “depraved” messages in the early hours of the morning. The prosecution reported that Smith would send explicit images and then “vilely” question the children about their sexual orientation or if they had feelings for him, telling one victim, “we can’t talk more” when the child rejected his advances.
Smith’s “vile” double life was exposed ahead of a match when a victim spotted him and alerted teammates, leading to the discovery that multiple boys had been targeted. Despite the “vicious” evidence, Smith maintained a deplorable defence during his trial, accusing the children of “jumping on the bandwagon” and conspiring against him. Judge Anil Murray reported that Smith had “groomed” his victims and emphasised the serious breach of trust committed against the children and the wider community in Speke, Merseyside.
As a result of his convictions for sexual communication with a child, John Smith was jailed for 18 months. He was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for ten years and was made subject to a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and a five-year restraining order. He is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Merseyside Police, ensuring he remains under intensive supervision. Any further predatory behaviour or presence at youth organisations in Speke, Liverpool, or elsewhere will result in his immediate arrest and return to prison.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on reporting a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.