July 2018 Man twice raped girl, 12, after learning of her troubled background A man who twice raped a 12-year-old girl has been jailed for 12 years. Gary Smith used his knowledge about the girl’s troubled background to win her trust and then abuse her. At Leicester Crown Court today Judge Nicolas Head said Smith (50) of Imperial Avenue, Braunstone, Leicester, had groomed the girl deliberately as well as getting her to send him indecent pictures of herself. He said: “You had sent her sexually highly explicit messages and sums of money. “You knew of her unhappy background. You must have known she would be a fragile child who would respond to affection. “The jury convicted you of grossly abusing your position of trust on two occasions by having sexual intercourse with her before her 13th birthday.” The two rapes, which were just days apart, happened in October of last year. The judge said the girl, who cannot be named, suffered a “profound impact” from the rapes. Smith had convictions for 32 previous offences of violence and dishonesty Smith, who previously worked as a civil engineer, was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order that will mean he is monitored after his release from prison. He must also sign the sex offenders register for life.