BRIAN SMITH FROM CHESTERTON AND CAMBRIDGE SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF 8-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In November 2010, a disturbing case of child sexual abuse emerged involving Brian Smith, a 65-year-old man from Chesterton, who was convicted of repeatedly assaulting an eight-year-old girl in Cambridge. The incident came to light after the young girl, who was of Eastern European descent, was placed under Smith’s care while her parents were at work. Over a period of several months, Smith engaged in inappropriate and illegal conduct towards the girl, with the Crown Court in Cambridge hearing that the abuse occurred on approximately five or six separate occasions.

During the court proceedings, Judge Jonathan Haworth delivered a stern sentence, emphasizing the breach of trust involved in the case. He stated, “You were entrusted to look after an 8-year-old girl and instead you abused her,” underscoring the gravity of Smith’s actions. The prosecution, led by Geoffrey Porter, detailed how Smith was often asked to supervise the girl and her brother during a brief half-hour window between their mother’s departure for work and their father’s return home.

As the investigation unfolded, it became evident that Smith was favoring the young girl over her sibling, showering her with gifts such as a mobile phone and a necklace, which raised suspicions. The situation escalated when the girl’s mother discovered a text message from Smith to her daughter that read, “I love you,” prompting her to contact authorities. This discovery led to police intervention and subsequent charges against Smith.

Initially, Smith denied the allegations during police interviews. However, he later pleaded guilty to sexual assault in court, admitting that he had touched the girl between her legs through her clothing. His defense attorney, Mark Shelley, argued that Smith’s confession extended beyond the original accusations and emphasized that there was no prior history of paedophilia or similar offenses in his background. Shelley described Smith as a retired painter and decorator who, at the age of 65, was living alone and experiencing loneliness and depression.

He further explained that Smith had initially formed what appeared to be a normal relationship with a nearby family but that his feelings for the girl became inappropriate, leading to the assault. The court was told that Smith’s actions were a source of shame for him, and he was subsequently placed on the sex offenders’ register for five years. Additionally, he was prohibited from having unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 16.

Det Con Jo Crisall, the officer responsible for bringing Smith to justice, expressed her satisfaction with the sentence. She stated, “This sentence shows how seriously this type of crime is regarded by the courts and I hope other victims of sexual offences are encouraged to come forward. Smith’s victim was extremely brave throughout this ordeal and I hope the result gives the family some comfort.”