Town website: The sordid truth
Today, the Mail carries this comment piece about HU17.net publisher Paul Smith's links to pornography websites.
READERS of this newspaper will be understandably alarmed to learn today that a man running a community website focused on Beverley is linked to a host of hardcore pornography sites.
Beverley resident Paul Smith has used his skills in website creation, design and development to set up HU17.net, a website focused on news, sport and community events in the town.
The site earned Mr Smith credibility and connections in Beverley. He even became a member of a partnership group promoting the town.
However, behind the veneer of respectability are some very unpleasant activities indeed. Mr Smith has been making money out of building pornographic websites.
He has built a vast array of hardcore sex sites, all registered in his company’s name and available on the Internet until they were suddenly closed after we confronted Mr Smith with our findings earlier this week.
We had heard rumours of Mr Smith’s sordid activities and became particularly concerned when his Beverley website was endorsed by East Riding Council.
We decided to investigate, as we would in any such circumstances. The result is the revelations we publish today.
What Mr Smith has done is not illegal, but it is certainly not consistent with publishing a responsible local website carrying reports, pictures and videos of community events and activities, many featuring children. It is in the public interest that people know the truth about the man behind HU17.net
Mr Smith claimed in an interview with our reporter that he merely created the porn sites and had nothing to do with the photographs and video footage that appear on them. We are not in a position to dispute that. Nevertheless, he was clearly aware of the sordid nature of that content.
He says he has left his unpleasant past behind him. But, if so, why did so many sites still exist that were registered to a company of which he is the sole director and shareholder?
And why, when approached by our undercover reporter, did Mr Smith so readily respond to the request to build a website featuring naked pictures promoting escort services? It is interesting that Mr Smith asked our reporter to keep the business arrangement “between themselves”.
Clearly, a number of organisations were unaware of Mr Smith’s clandestine activities when they endorsed HU17.net. But now that we have exposed the truth behind Mr Smith’s Internet interests, people and organisations in the town are in a position to decide whether he is an appropriate person to be operating a website that purports to be “all about Beverley”.
The Mail has kept the comments facility on this story to allow debate to continue, but offensive postings will be removed.
46 Comments
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by Astonomia, East Riding
Friday, March 05 2010, 5:33PM
“The shame of it as the Mail is exposed as the shoddy rag that it is...”
by Molescroft missionary, Beverley
Thursday, March 04 2010, 10:01PM
“So HDM is this a 'news' story or is there a bit more to it. I wonder if karoo got some welcome (by the public) competition if they would try anything to smear a companies credability. You are a joke and should be ashamed of yourselves. The piece isn't written as a story, it is written in the style of a jealous buisnessman gossipping about a rival....pathetic. We are not as stupid as you frightened little rabbits think we are and don't swallow the sludge you serve up AND CHARGE FOR!!!”
by Malcolm, Near Hull
Thursday, March 04 2010, 9:54PM
“"The Mail has kept the comments facility on this story to allow debate to continue, but offensive postings will be removed".
Not only a misguided story but, judging by all the comments, you clearly misunderstand your readership as well!!
I see only three offensive items and all three were articles written by a journalist of the HDM!!! Just how quickly do HDM papers biodegrade?
Let's hope we see a grovelling apology spread across three pages in tomorrow's HDM!!!”
by ex hullite, new zealand
Thursday, March 04 2010, 8:27PM
“tee hee hee! well done HDM for helping to promote this guys business! i had never heard of him, or HU17 until today, but it looks like a really good "information" service for those needing knowledge on the goings on in Beverley. quite the oposite of the HDM perhaps??? maybe there is some jealousy and rivalry! gawd, lets all grow up shall we!!!
Hey, one thing that did cross my mind, given all the support this guy has got in this comments thing.....how many of us are writing here because we enjoy porn (legal stuff of course)!!??!! despite the fact that the sex industry is usually seen as degrading and exploitive to women - perhaps you cant deny the fact that sex is goooood!”
by Martyn, Hull
Thursday, March 04 2010, 8:16PM
“READERS of this newspaper will be understandably alarmed to learn today that the HDM accept money from the sex industry.
They are apparently happy to accept money from massage parlours (brothels), sex chat lines and escort girls.
Hypocrites or what?”
by confused, dot com
Thursday, March 04 2010, 6:43PM
“whats all the fuss about ??”
by Tony, East Yorkshire
Thursday, March 04 2010, 6:31PM
“'READERS of this newspaper will be understandably alarmed to learn today that a man running a community website focused on Beverley is linked to a host of hardcore pornography sites'
Having quickly glaning through the comments on the 3 articles of this non story it seems the HDM have got it wrong again as the readers DO NOT appear alarmed. The HDM should start and print proper stories instead of trying to be-little a local businessman in there own agenda.”
by Pete, hull
Thursday, March 04 2010, 6:30PM
“The trouble with the HDM, it assumed that many of the idiots and racists who inhabit these pages are typical of the readers in geberal.
This attack on a legitimate business has shown the editor that there are many readers who are appalled at the article, and I am pleased that many of the bombed out contributors have kept their key boards still for today and allowed the sane crowd the chance to express their views.
I will exclude myself from among the sane mob as not to detract from the pleasure I have in reading the great comments of every one.”
by JM, Hull
Thursday, March 04 2010, 6:16PM
“Elles belles - you are right. It's not the first time this journalist has tried to stitch up local businesses either.”
by elles-belles, beverley
Thursday, March 04 2010, 5:59PM
“I have already commented on this stupid idiotic story but will do so again! This is just a typical trouble causing journalist trying to dish the dirt on an ordinary man doing a job. He isnt harming anyone and people will probably need a password to access these sites anyway, so whats the problem? He cannot turn clients away -it would be very unprofessional and it would be like me being approached by a prostitute and saying to her "sorry you are a prostitue and I wont do yor nails for you" (I have my own nail salon). Why do journalists have to try and ruin peoples lives? it is not illegal what this man has done!!!! Paul I think you have a good case for deformation (sorry if the spelling is wrong) of character here.”