February 2008
Pervert teacher jailed A PERVERT teacher has been jailed for having sex with a pupil and owning videos of children being raped. Graham Smith, who used to teach at Onslow St Audrey’s School in Hatfield , attacked the girl in an equipment cupboard, his car and while on a school trip. The victim, now in her 30s, kept the abuse secret for nearly 17 years. When she finally told police, detectives discovered Smith was also under investigation for downloading more than 10,000 images and videos of child pornography. PE teacher Smith was arrested and his home in Potters Bar, was raided. Despite being under investigation he continued downloading the sick images, while at his mother’s home in Acacia Avenue, Dorset. Smith pleaded guilty to three charges of indecent assault and 17 counts of making and downloading child pornography. Prosecutor Beverly Cripps told St Albans Crown Court on Thursday: “Smith used his flattery and affection to lure the young girl in a relationship. “He had made her feel special and grown up and gave her cigarettes. “He told her never to write anything down because if anybody found out he could go to prison.” Iain Ross, defending, said Smith, who had no previous convictions, was “happy his victim will be able to put all this behind her”. Sentencing Smith, Judge Stephen Warner said: “Your conduct provides a market for this sort of material and the production of that involves the abuse and degradation of young children. “I viewed a selection of that material and that’s clearly the case here.” He also banned Smith from working with children, made him sign the sex offenders’ register and restricted his use of computers and the internet.