A convicted paedophile who dressed up as an elf at a Santa's grotto while volunteering at a Christmas party has been jailed. Former police officer John Smith, 48, of Laurel Road in Fairfield, was previously banned from having any contact with children after twice being caught engaging in sexualised online chats with children and decoy accounts.
He brazenly flouted this court order within months by acting as a "meeter and greeter" at a charity event on Christmas Day, attended by potentially vulnerable youngsters. His role included handing a hamper to a family home. Organisers were unaware of his past.
Liverpool Crown Court heard on Wednesday that Smith was subject to a three-year community order and 10-year sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) after being convicted of attempted sexual communications with a child in February 2024. The order banned him from unsupervised contact with children without approval from parents and social services.
Prosecutor Laura Atherton detailed that during a visit by offender managers on Valentine's Day 2025, a photo on Smith's phone showed him dressed as an elf beside Santa in a grotto. Smith confessed the picture was taken when he volunteered at an event on December 25, 2024, where children were present. Charity organisers described the event as "family orientated," including a Christmas dinner, presents, and a grotto, aimed at vulnerable or lonely individuals referred by organisations like Crisis.
"Dressing up at the event was not mandatory," Ms Atherton said. "The defendant chose to dress up as an elf of his own volition. It could be seen as him trying to make himself more approachable to children." This was the third year Smith volunteered, without disclosing his convictions or SHPO. His duties included greeting families and delivering a festive hamper to a home with children.
Smith has eight previous convictions for 17 offences, including a 2011 community order for six counts of inciting sexual activity with a child, and a 2013 prison sentence for breaching that order.
Defending, Paul Becker said: "He is a well spoken, articulate, intelligent man. It is perplexing how he committed such a deliberate breach. He has never committed a contact offence. He understands it was a deliberate breach causing significant harm." Becker noted Smith's history of alcohol abuse (sober for 11 years), PTSD, and multiple sectionings. He asked for another opportunity.
Smith pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching a sexual harm prevention order. He was jailed for 20 months. Sentencing, Judge Katherine Pierpoint said: "This was a deliberate breach at a Christmas event you knew would be attended by many children. You chose to visit a family with children present. The organiser was unaware of your conviction, putting multiple children at potential risk."
Smith must sign the sex offenders' register for 10 years, and his SHPO remains in place until 2034.
