DAVID BOULTON-SMITH'S RE-ENTRY INTO SILSDEN: HORROR AND CONTROVERSY IN WEST YORKSHIRE

In October 1996, a chilling series of events unfolded in Silsden, West Yorkshire, that left a community shaken and a family devastated. Patricia Parkin and her three young daughters, aged five, seven, and eleven, found themselves forced to abandon their home after the unsettling return of their next-door neighbor, David Boulton, known formally as David Boulton-Smith, a 24-year-old man with a violent criminal history.

Unaware of Boulton-Smith’s past, the Parkin family’s sense of security was shattered when police officers arrived unexpectedly at their residence. During this emergency visit, law enforcement officials provided Mrs. Parkin and her children with personal rape alarms for their safety and installed a transmitter alarm system within their home, aiming to bolster their protection. This family had recently purchased the four-bedroom terraced house for £46,000, a property they acquired in the summer of that year.

David Boulton-Smith’s criminal record is marked by heinous acts. In 1990, he had broken into the same house by crawling down the coal chute, an act that led to him raping a woman while her children slept in the next room. His violent tendencies earned him a three-year sentence in a young offenders institution. However, after serving less than two-thirds of his sentence, Boulton-Smith returned to his parents’ home and once again broke into the house next door.

His reoffending escalated when he held a different woman, a new occupant, at knifepoint. During this incident, she screamed for help, prompting Boulton-Smith to stab her husband in the chest. He was subsequently charged with aggravated burglary with intent to rape. Following plea negotiations, he admitted to charges of burglary with intent to steal and wounding, and in 1994, he was sentenced to five years in prison.

At the conclusion of his sentence, Boulton-Smith was released on licence at the end of summer 1996. His release conditions stipulated that he spend nights at a bail hostel in Leeds, although he was permitted to visit his family in Silsden during the daytime. The police had made it clear to Mr. Parkin that they believed Boulton-Smith might reoffend, especially given his fixation on the house they now occupied. Officers expressed concern that the electronic security measures installed might not be sufficient, as Boulton-Smith had not received any psychiatric treatment or preparation for his release from prison.

Following the police visit, Mrs. Parkin, a teacher by profession, and her children left their home within 24 hours. They temporarily relocated to various friends’ houses, seeking safety and peace of mind. Mrs. Parkin, overwhelmed by the trauma of the situation, is currently on sick leave and has declared that she will never return to her house. The property is now up for sale, and her husband, Mr. Parkin, continues to reside there alone. The mortgage and insurance policies include clauses that prohibit the house from being left unoccupied for extended periods.

Meanwhile, David Boulton-Smith has been seen wandering the streets of Silsden, despite widespread media coverage and a campaign launched by the regional newspaper, the Yorkshire Post, which is based in Leeds. The paper has consistently featured his name and photograph, interviewed residents about his violent past, and monitored his movements daily. The campaign has also included interviews with one of his previous victims, fueling accusations that the media coverage has bordered on a witch-hunt.

Members of Boulton-Smith’s family have voiced their frustration, claiming that he is trying to turn his life around and that the ongoing harassment is unjust. A family member stated, “Our lad is trying to go straight and this sort of thing is happening. It isn’t fair. He’s been let out by the parole board. He hasn’t escaped. Why can’t they leave him alone?”

West Yorkshire police confirmed that they had informed Mr. Parkin about Boulton-Smith’s criminal history and offered crime-prevention advice and support to his family. A police spokeswoman expressed disappointment that confidential information had been made public, but acknowledged that sometimes the need to alert the community outweighs confidentiality concerns.

Officials from the West Yorkshire probation service explained that Boulton-Smith’s release on licence was always intended to include supervised conditions. If he re-offends or exhibits concerning behavior, authorities will issue a warrant for his return to prison. Randel Barrows, the division chief probation officer for Bradford, emphasized that monitoring an offender within their known community is generally more effective than banning or excluding them from the area, as it facilitates better supervision.

Mr. Parkin voiced his frustration with the media campaign, asserting that his family are the true victims. “I and my family are the real victims of this mess,” he said. “It seems we are the only ones to have no rights. I have to be separated from my family, my wife is on sick leave because she still feels hunted and depressed. And for all this, there seems to be no redress. We are nearly broke because we have to pay for rented accommodation as well as the house mortgage. The law on this issue is extremely vague.”

He also revealed that he has written to the Home Secretary, Michael Howard, seeking assistance, but has yet to receive a response, highlighting the ongoing frustration and sense of helplessness experienced by the family amidst the controversy surrounding David Boulton’s release.