Richard Smith thought he was talking to a child’s aunt
Chris Slater
19:56, 09 Apr 2026
Richard Smith(Image: GMP)
A convicted sex offender who offered cash to have sex with an “11-year-old girl” didn’t realise he was talking to an undercover police officer posing as the “child’s” aunt as he told her: “Money isn’t a problem.”
Richard Smith said he’d pay £250 before getting cold feet. The 35-year-old, from Wigan, first made contact with the cop – who ‘posed as an adult female offering a service to sexually exploit underage children for a fee’, last August, Bolton Crown Court was told.
He messaged her on Chat IW, a site that ‘encourages conversion with strangers’, Alex Beevers, prosecuting, said. Smith used the username ‘Whitestick’ with the officer going by the name ‘AuntofLil’.
That handle, to ‘those in the know, denotes a female child’, Mr Beevers said. In his ‘skeletal’ profile, Smith claimed to be a 28-year-old from Aberdeen, the default location on the site, reports the MEN.
During the initial conversation, Smith said: “Oh hello, go on how old is she?” The ‘aunty’ said her ‘nieces’ were 11 and 14. Smith took the chat to Teleguard, a messaging app Mr Beevers said was known ‘to be utilised by the paedophile community to share indecent content and abuse material’. For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here
Recorder of Bolton Judge Nicholas Clarke KC said it was ‘quite alarming that such websites and facilities are available’, with sex offenders able to ‘make contact with other like-minded individuals and those who are prepared to service their proclivities’.
Smith asked if he could have sex with the girls. He asked for pictures of the ‘children’ and asked where they lived. “Oh it said Greater Manchester lmao fair enough tho I can travel to London,” he replied when told they lived in the capital.
He asked if they were ‘innocent and naive’ before messaging: “Free this week?” The undercover officer and Smith then spoke on the phone.
He expressed ‘relief that the decoy was ostensibly real’, Mr Beevers said. There was ‘general discussion about dates and money’, with Smith saying: “Money isn’t a problem.”
After being told prices, he said he would do the ‘£180 option’. He said he had ‘wanted to do this for ages but there hasn’t been anyone genuine’, Mr Beevers said, ‘so it… simply stayed a fantasy’.
Smith said he ‘wouldn’t call if he wasn’t serious’ and asked if it was ‘cash on arrival’. He said he would be ‘more comfortable’ with the 11-year-old. He said it was the ‘opportunity of a lifetime’ and asked if it could be a ‘long term’ arrangement.
Smith repeatedly asked for pictures of the girl. None were sent. On Snapchat, he was sent a picture of children’s underwear. He ‘responded with a great deal of enthusiasm’.
He attempted to arrange a meet-up on a Sunday. After being told ‘another client had paid to abuse the child on that day’, Smith ‘offered an enhanced fee’ of £250 to ‘secure the slot’.
Messages then stopped. The court heard he ‘didn’t go on to finalise or complete any arrangement.’ Smith was arrested at home a week later.
He was sentenced for engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child in 2018 and was subject to strict rules at the time of the messages. Smith performed a sex act during a FaceTime call with a girl under 16, which was witnessed by her mother.
Smith pleaded guilty to arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence; and a breach of notification requirements, for failing to disclose his social media aliases.
David Toal, representing Smith, said: “He has to, and does, accept he sent and received the messages he did.” He said Smith’s ‘voluntary desistance’ was an ‘important factor’ in the case, adding: “He drew back and that’s the reason why there’s no actual serious harm committed by him. He stopped because he chose to stop.”
Smith, of Nixon Phillips Drive, Hindley Green, Wigan, was sentenced to six years; made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order; and ordered to sign the sex offender register for life.
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