Adrian Smith, 48, suffered multiple injuries after falling from a bridge on the M4 and being struck by several vehicles – a day after online paedophile hunters confronted him at his home
A man who was found dead on the M4 after being confronted by online paedophile hunters has been pictured for the first time. Adrian Smith, 48, suffered multiple injuries after falling from a bridge on the motorway and being struck by several vehicles on February 22.
Just a day prior, he was filmed on a livestream being confronted by self-proclaimed “child protection service groups” and accused of paedophilia. He was arrested by Avon and Somerset Police on the evening of February 21 and released from custody without charge the following day.
Hours later, at around 6:40pm, the married man, from Chipping Sodbury in South Gloucestershire, was found dead after falling from height onto the carriageway north of Bristol, Avon Coroners’ Court heard this week.
READ MORE: Man confronted by paedophile hunters on live stream found dead on M4 with ‘multiple injuries’
Mr Smith was accused of sending explicit pictures and messages to an online paedophile hunter who was posing as a 14-year-old girl. Coroner’s officer Alexis Camp told an inquest opening that Mr Smith, a married man, was identified by 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.”