Man snared by paedo hunters then discovered lifeless on M4 is pictured for first time
Adrian Smith, 48, was declared dead at the scene after falling from a bridge over the M4 motorway near Bristol and being struck by several vehicles on February 22
A man who died on the M4 was confronted in a paedophie sting hours earlier. Adrian Smith, 48, suffered multiple injuries after plummeting from a bridge and being hit by numerous vehicles on February 22.
Just the day before, he was in the spotlight of a livestream where self-styled “child protection service groups” cornered him with allegations of paedophilia. Cuffed by Avon and Somerset Police on the night of February 21, Smith released without charges thenext morning.
But tragedy struck mere hours later when, at approximately 6:40pm, the man from Chipping Sodbury, South Gloucestershire, met his end on the highway stretch north of Bristol. The sad news came via a hearing at Avon Coroners’ Court this week.
Smith had been accused of sending explicit pictures and messages to an online paedophile hunter he thought was a teen girl. At the inquest opener, coroner’s officer Alexis Camp divulged that Smith’s identity was confirmed through his fingerprints.
She said a post-mortem examination gave his cause of death as multiple injuries. Ms Camp added: “I understand there are no family concerns.”
Statements will be taken from Mr Smith’s doctor, his family and witnesses, with a full post-mortem report prepared for his full inquest hearing. Maria Voisin, senior coroner for Avon, provisionally listed Mr Smith’s inquest on June 11.
After his death, the groups involved in the livestream video called for people to “allow his family to grieve in a respectful manner”. The post added: “We exposed a pred and handed him to the police, we have no control over the choices made by him.”
Avon and Somerset Police referred itself to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) – a mandatory step taken if a death occurs following police contact. A spokesperson thanked members of the public who reported the death, and added that anyone left distressed should seek support.
The force said: “We understand this incident may be distressing for some people and we urge you to seek support should you need it. You can speak with your GP or reach out to charities such as Mind and Samaritans, who offer support online and over the phone. We would ask people not to speculate during this time and to respect the family’s privacy.”
Reporting the incident in February, a spokesperson for the force previously thanked members of the public who reported the death, and added that anyone left distressed should seek support. They said: “We are grateful to members of the public who have come forward with information following the death of a man on the M4 motorway on Saturday.
“We understand this incident may be distressing for some people and we urge you to seek support should you need it.”
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