EDINBURGH PREACHER JOHN SMART SENTENCED TO EIGHT YEARS FOR CHILD ABUSE CAMPAIGN
In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Edinburgh, John Smart, a preacher and former Conservative candidate for Holyrood, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for a prolonged and systematic campaign of child abuse spanning over fifteen years.Smart, aged 48, was found guilty of abusing three young children whom he met through his involvement with the Edinburgh City Mission.
The abuse began when one of his victims was only three years old, highlighting the disturbing nature and the long-term impact of his actions.
The sentencing took place at the High Court in Glasgow, where Judge Lady Dorrian emphasized the severity and premeditated nature of Smart’s crimes.
She ordered him to be placed on the sex offenders' register and mandated a three-year period of community supervision following his release from prison.
In her remarks, the judge stated, “The social enquiry report points out that these offences were planned, intrusive and involved a significant degree of planning.
Your victims were vulnerable.
You pose a sufficiently significant risk to children to merit a lengthy sentence.” During the trial, Smart’s defense solicitor advocate, John Keenan, maintained that his client was a first-time offender and continued to deny any responsibility for the offences.
Keenan added, “He denies responsibility for these offences.” Smart’s background included a run as a candidate in the 2003 Scottish Parliament elections, which added a layer of public interest and concern to the case.
It was revealed that he had persuaded the parents of his victims to allow him to take their children on trips and overnight visits, during which the abuse occurred.
The children, a boy and a girl, were taken to various locations including parks and swimming pools, under the guise of friendly outings.
Despite his claims of innocence, Smart was convicted of five charges of abuse committed between 1987 and 2002 in locations including Edinburgh, Leith, Peebles, and Perth.
During the trial, he denied the allegations, asserting that he could not have committed the assaults because of a medical condition that rendered him a virgin.
He claimed to have suffered from impotence for a long time and even stated that this condition had led to the end of his engagement to a woman.
The parents of the victims believed Smart was a devout Christian, which initially led them to trust him with their children.
They thought he was a moral and religious man, which made the betrayal even more devastating.
Instead of engaging in innocent activities, Smart exploited the trust placed in him to carry out his heinous acts in private.
In conclusion, the court’s verdict reflects the gravity of Smart’s crimes and the danger he posed to children.
His actions have left a lasting scar on the victims and their families, and the lengthy sentence aims to protect the community from further harm.
