Two child sexual predators have been jailed

Two child sexual predators have been jailed after arranging to travel overseas to abuse children.

Carl Simmons, 51, and Kevin Smith, 42, are now behind bars after they were caught making arrangements to carry out sexual abuse of young children overseas – even booking flights and preparing for travel.

Thankfully, officers from the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU) and Durham Constabulary's Online Child Abuse Investigation Team took immediate action and arrested both males preventing them from travelling abroad.

In October last year, Simmons and Smith both made an arrangement online to sexually abuse and rape children overseas.

They both used sexually explicit language and Simmons even sent sexual images of himself.

However, what they didn’t realise was they were actually speaking to a police officer who was quickly closing in on the evil pair through their investigation.

Simmons and Smith were both arrested in October 2025 and subsequently charged with arranging the commission of a child sex offence and later pleaded guilty.

Today (Monday) they appeared at Teesside Crown Court and Simmons, of Tilery Close, Bowburn, Durham, and Smith, of Grangefield Road, Stockton-on-Tees, were both sentenced to six years imprisonment, a 15-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and an indefinite Sex Offender Registration.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Constable Georgina Lewis, said: “Both Simmons and Smith made their vile desires very clear, and their actions demonstrated the lengths they would go and the money they would pay to sexually abuse children.

“They’ll now face the consequences of their actions thanks to the hard work of officers.

“We would urge anyone who has been a victim of this type of offending, or has concerns about someone’s behaviour, to come forward and talk to police – support is available and you can help safeguard other vulnerable children.”

If you have concerns about child abuse or want to report a crime please call 101. Always dial 999 in an emergency.

Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.