GARY SMITH FROM RUNCORN AND WESTON SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN WARRINGTON

In September 2012, a disturbing case involving Gary Smith, a man from Runcorn and Weston, culminated in his being sentenced to prison for a series of heinous sexual offenses committed over a span of several years. The court proceedings revealed a pattern of disturbing behavior, including the use of children's toys and covert surveillance to exploit vulnerable victims.

Gary Paul Smith, aged 30 at the time, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges, which included engaging in sexual activity in front of a child, voyeurism, and exposure. The offences spanned over a period of seven years, during which Smith targeted three different victims. Warrington Crown Court heard that Smith, who was formerly residing on Tildsley Crescent, employed various tactics to carry out his crimes, including the use of children's toys during the incidents and secretly filming his victims with a camera.

The investigation was initiated after a young child, one of Smith’s victims, accused him of exposing himself. This allegation prompted authorities to look deeper into Smith’s activities, uncovering a disturbing pattern of voyeurism and sexual misconduct. During the trial, Smith denied one particular charge of sexual activity in the presence of a toddler, but the charge was ultimately dropped after the prosecution and defense agreed that pursuing it would not have affected his overall sentence.

Prosecutor Mike Stephenson and Judge Roger Dutton acknowledged that the conviction of that specific charge would not have resulted in a harsher penalty, and thus, it was omitted from the final sentencing. The court was told that the child involved in that incident was the initial catalyst for the investigation, as she had accused Smith of exposing himself, which led to the discovery of his broader pattern of offending.

Gareth Roberts, representing Smith, described his client’s actions as ‘despicable,’ emphasizing the gravity of the crimes. Judge Dutton addressed Smith directly, condemning his behavior: “You abused their position by satisfying yourself sexually to their expense. The fact is that on none of the occasions did you ever go as far as personal touching. If that had been the case, the sentence would have been very substantially greater.” The judge also expressed his disappointment, stating, “You should be terribly ashamed of yourself.”

In light of Smith’s guilty plea, the judge sentenced him to 18 months in prison, reducing the term by a third. The maximum sentence for engaging in sexual activity in front of a child, according to current guidelines, is two and a half years. Additionally, Smith received a 12-month sentence for two counts of voyeurism and an eight-month sentence for two counts of exposure, with all sentences to run concurrently.

The sentencing hearing was met with an angry outburst from members of the public gallery, reflecting the community’s outrage. Following the hearing, the mother of the child who initially reported Smith expressed her frustration and concern. She told the Weekly News, “With the 91 days on remand taken off, he’ll be out walking the streets in five months. It’s an absolute shambles. People wonder why victims don’t come forward when they’re getting abused.”

As part of his sentence, Smith was banned from working with or being alone around children. He is also required to report to the police regularly for the next ten years after his release, ensuring ongoing supervision and monitoring of his activities.

Earlier in April 2012, Smith had already admitted to multiple sexual offences against children, pleading guilty to 13 of 14 counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child, along with two counts of indecent exposure and two counts of voyeurism. The Crown Prosecution Service had yet to decide whether he would face trial for the remaining charge he denied. Smith was remanded in custody until his sentencing scheduled for September 24, 2012, in Warrington Crown Court, highlighting the serious nature of his crimes and the ongoing concern for community safety.