Ivybridge man jailed for range of offences including robbery

A man has been jailed for robbing vulnerable sex workers and making unwanted sexual advances towards three young girls.

Luke Smerdon, 35, from Ivybridge, appeared at Plymouth Crown Court for sentence on Thursday, 20 June, after pleading guilty to robbery, attempted robbery, six malicious communication charges and causing or inciting a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity.

Smerdon was sentenced to 77 months in prison by Judge Robert Linford and made subject of a sexual harm prevention order. Restraining orders were also put in place. 

The first of the offences, the malicious communications, took place between March and September 2022. During this period Smerdon made violent threats by hand-written letter or over Facebook messenger using a fake account, to a number of individuals. During one of the malicious communications Smerdon made reference to Jack the Ripper and said to a woman that she would end up looking like one of his victims.

On the evening of 27 July 2023 Smerdon engaged with a sex worker in Plymouth for her services and after the encounter Smerdon grabbed her, placed his hands over her mouth and stole some of the money he had given her.

As part of the investigation, police spoke to another sex worker who was present that night who described how two weeks earlier, Smerdon robbed her after threatening to stab her if she didn’t give him money.

The final offence occurred on 11 September 2023, just outside of Plymouth Pavilions. At around 5.45pm a 15-year-old girl and two 16-year-old girls were standing on a grassy area. They were approached by Smerdon who asked the girls if they would have sex with him. He offered them £1,000 and then £2,000 offers which were refused by the group.

Smerdon then offered them a set of AirPods, telling them he wasn’t worried about their age. They eventually walked off and Smerdon left the scene.

DC Adam Fitzpatrick said: “Luke Smerdon is a dangerous individual who has made multiple attempts to target women in Devon and Cornwall. The sentence he received today at court is the result of three cases and multiple officers hard work and dedication to bring him to justice.”

If you have been affected by crime, please visit victimcare-dc.org to access support services and information on your rights and how to navigate the criminal justice system. You can also call Victim Support on 08 08 16 89 111 or Devon and Cornwall Police’s Victim Care Unit on 01392 475900.

For more on sex worker safety visit Sex worker safety | Devon & Cornwall Police (devon-cornwall.police.uk).