Repeat Hamilton sex offender Jeffrey Smallwood is back behind bars

A repeat sexual offender is back behind bars, again, after allegedly violating the terms of his probation by using social media.

And once again it was one of his victims who uncovered the alleged breach of his probation and called police.

Hamilton police confirmed Jeffrey Smallwood was arrested Oct. 3 and is accused of breaching his probation in relation to internet use. The 47-year-old remains in custody.

One of his victims, who cannot be named because of publication bans protecting the identities of sexual assault victims, said she called police after finding four separate social media accounts she claims belong to Smallwood.

The accounts are on Houseparty, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat, she alleged, adding that she identified him through photos and other details, including things she knew about him in high school and his disclosure that he has a brain injury.

Smallwood met at least one of his past victims online and his victims fear he could prey on others this way.

This isn't the first time his victim turned detective and reported him breaching his probation. She also reported him last January after she found him on a dating website. That time he spent about three months in jail, before being released last April.

In 2018, Smallwood pleaded guilty to several counts of sexual assault and was sentenced to two years less a day after credit for time served in pretrial custody. At that time he was already a registered sex offender because of an earlier conviction.

The offences spanned more than two decades. Some of the victims came forward after police released a composite sketch that appears to be Smallwood after a sexual assault in a park in 2016.

Smallwood was released on probation in August 2019. His three-year probation included the condition to keep off social media.

When he was first released, his victims formed a Facebook group, in part to support each other and also to keep tabs on him. They reported sightings to each other.

Through this group the victims learned Smallwood had been working for Elections Canada canvassing for voter registry information. After a complaint he was reassigned.

This group also made the victim aware of his alleged social media use and reported him to police.

The women say they live in fear when he's out in the community.

I live so differently when he's out, I don't go out by myself," says the victim who reported Smallwood. When he's arrested, I'm free."

Now the question is how long he will stay in custody. Victims were not happy with his two-year-less-a-day sentence and wanted him to stay in jail longer.

Another victim called the situation so frustrating," adding that he keeps getting released. She and a friend have considered putting up flyers about him around Hamilton.

Smallwood's lawyer Joe Chrolavicius said he is still waiting for disclosure from the Crown and doesn't yet know details of the allegations.

He said Smallwood is being vary patient" waiting in jail. It has been difficult to meet with him to hear his side of the story because of restrictions around COVID-19.

While he was out of custody, Smallwood was among the offenders monitored by the Hamilton police high risk offender unit.

Det. Bob Hill said the unit monitors the activities of offenders to the best of their ability within the confines of the law."

The victim who reported his breach said she's been happy with the response and communication from Hamilton police. But she worries how long Smallwood may be kept in custody.

She also questions what he could have been up to in the more than five months he was living out in the community between end of April to his arrest Oct. 3.

It scares me," she said.

Nicole O'Reilly is a Hamilton-based reporter covering crime and justice for The Spectator. Reach her via email: noreilly@thespec.com