In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that Simon Smith, 42, was handed an extended prison sentence for the repeated sexual abuse of an eight-year-old girl. On appearing at Leeds Crown Court in 2019, the defendant, of Dewsbury Road, Ossett, Wakefield, was sentenced for offences committed while he was already under a court order for possessing child abuse images. It was reported that Smith had been spared prison in 2017 to allow him to attend sex offender rehabilitation programmes, which the judge noted had failed to prevent his re-offending.
The investigation established that Smith intentionally bypassed safeguarding measures to gain unsupervised access to the victim over several months. West Yorkshire Police reported that Smith was eventually caught when another adult witnessed him sexually assaulting the child and raised the alarm. The prosecution reported that during the subsequent investigation, the girl revealed a history of repeated abuse at the hands of the defendant.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Smith posed a high risk of harm to children and had prioritised his own sexual needs over the safety of the victim. Leeds Crown Court heard how Smith was originally convicted in June 2017 for possessing indecent images and photographing a child as she undressed. The investigation established that despite being placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life and receiving a two-year community order, Smith knowingly breached his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) to carry out the assaults in Ossett.
Judge Penelope Belcher noted that it was concerning Smith had been allowed his liberty on the previous occasion to access offending programmes that clearly had no impact. For his actions in Wakefield, Smith pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual assault of a child and breaching his SHPO. The judge noted his status as a serious danger to children and handed down an extended sentence totalling eight years and three months.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in England, the status of Simon Smith is as follows:
- Custodial Sentence: Eight years and three months (2019).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active for life.
- SHPO Status: Indefinite, prohibiting unsupervised contact with any child.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Leeds Crown Court following a West Yorkshire Police investigation.
- Criminal Record: Sexual assault of a child (5 counts); Possession of indecent images; Breach of SHPO.
- Origin: Dewsbury Road, Ossett, Wakefield, West Yorkshire.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Smith is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by the police and the National Probation Service in West Yorkshire. Due to the nature of his conduct in Wakefield, which involved re-offending against a child while under active supervision and after being spared jail for similar interests, his management is subject to high-level scrutiny. Authorities state that his extended sentence and life-long inclusion on the Sex Offenders Register are critical tools to ensure he is subject to unannounced residency checks and strict monitoring upon any eventual release.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register for life, Smith must comply with all notification requirements regarding his identity and residence. Authorities state that his history of ignoring court orders in Ossett and Wakefield necessitates permanent vigilance. Any future attempt to approach children, contact the victim, or engage in inappropriate behaviour will result in immediate arrest and a return to the court system for further incarceration.
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