JAMIE SMART OF STOKE-ON-TRENT SENTENCED AFTER HOTEL ASSAULTS IN GREATER MANCHESTER
A convicted sex offender from Stoke-on-Trent, Jamie Smart, 31, assaulted two women at a Mercure hotel in Wigan after being rehoused there under a government initiative aimed at helping the homeless during the COVID pandemic.Smart, who had a 15-year history of sexual offending and was on the Sex Offender Register, forcibly touched both women without their knowledge or consent.
One victim reported that Smart grabbed her breasts and made repeated inappropriate advances while they were queuing for dinner in July.
Prosecutor Mark Kellet described the incident: "He was standing behind her when he slapped and groped her bottom, saying, 'you've got a peachy bum!' She warned him she would slap him if he did it again, but he responded, 'Do it – I might like it.'" She tried to tell him to stop, but on some occasions, kept her silence to avoid conflict.
She also recounted an incident where Smart, intoxicated, moved to kiss her against her will and claimed they had sex, which distressed her.
A few days later, the same woman was in the hotel garden when Smart approached her from behind, wrapped his arms around her, and grabbed her breast.
She felt helpless and afraid, given they were alone.
Smart then behaved as if nothing had happened, which only worsened her anxiety.
The second victim experienced further harassment.
Smart made sexual comments asking her to sit on his knee and boasting he would 'show her a real man.' She dismissed this as banter.
However, when she played pool at a nearby pub, Smart approached her and twice touched her genital area without consent, despite her clear objections.
She said, "I felt horrible about how Smart touched me and worse when I found out he was on the Sex Offender Register." Police found that Smart had been violating his sex offender notification conditions, including not registering a bank card with authorities.
He has a long criminal record, with 23 offences dating back to 2006 involving sexual activity with a child, leading to multiple jail sentences including a six-month detention and training order, 12 months suspended sentence, 54 months in prison, and other punishments for non-compliance with court orders.
In July 2020, Smart pleaded guilty to failing to comply with registration requirements and was jailed for 10 months.
He was released early but soon recalled for breaching restrictions, only to be released again in May to reside at the Mercure hotel.
The victims expressed ongoing trauma; the first victim said, "I still feel physically sick about what Jamie did to me.
It has worsened my depression and anxiety.
I worry he has assaulted others and hope I can move forward, but I plan to see a psychologist soon." The second victim shared her suffering, stating she feels less confident, constantly fearful of men, and has ceased drinking alcohol out of fear of being victimized again.
She expressed difficulty sleeping and feeling relaxed, and has become distant from friends and her boyfriend.
Smart, originally from Stoke-on-Trent, was convicted at trial of two counts of sexual assault and breach of the sex offender registration.
He denied the charges but was sentenced to nine months in prison.
He is now subject to a new five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which restricts him from being alone with women unless unavoidable during normal activities.
During remand, he entered a relationship with his cellmate's sister.
Judge Miss Recorder Sarah Johnston told Smart, "One of the women felt terribly conflicted between hating what you were doing to her and not wanting any confrontation.
She told you many times not to do it.
You made disgusting and leering comments towards the second victim in a place where she was entitled to feel safe.
You were impervious to her wishes and found her discomfort amusing." She continued, "You have invaded these women's privacy, sense of security, and sense of self.
No one should be assaulted out of misplaced entitlement.
Your behavior damages confidence and makes women feel unsafe.
You show no insight into your actions or the risk you pose to others.
You are currently unsafe to be managed in the community." Smart is also barred from contacting either victim for five years and will remain on the sex offender register for another decade.
