Beer ad actor busted - Angry Scot faces kiddie porn charges
Thursday, February 16, 2006
The mutton-chopped Scot famous for berating pub patrons in a series of TV commercials for Alexander Keith's beer, is facing child pornography charges.
Robert Norman Smith, 40, was charged Wednesday with two counts of possession of child pornography and one count of making available child pornography.
Police searched his home on Tuesday following an undercover investigation wherein another man, 22-year-old Robert Alexander Hagon was already charged. Smith turned himself in at a Toronto police station.
Labatt Breweries, which owns Keith's, announced the popular TV spots will not be seen again.
"We are surprised to learn of these charges today. Clearly, we have decided not to run any future television commercials featuring this actor until this information is confirmed," said spokesman James Villeneuve in a statement. "If it is confirmed that this is the actor in question our commercials and any further association with him will be terminated."
Smith was released on $25,000 bail.
Police allege that more than 1,000 electronic files, including pictures and movies, of "prepubescent children engaged in sexual activity" were found on a computer. Some of the images - showing children having vaginal, anal and oral sex with adults - involve girls and boys as young as one year old.
Smith, a comic actor who toured with the Second City comedy troupe in the late 1990s, is best known for his thick accent, kilt and wool sweater in the Keith's ads. He had small roles in Cinderella Man and Pushing Tin. Neighbours said Smith has two small children.
Const. Scott Purches said the police search of Smith's home revealed that the actor does indeed drink Keith's - and Corona.