MATTHEW SMITH FROM RONKSWOOD, WORCESTER, RECEIVES PUNY £10 PAYMENT AFTER SEX ATTACK ON GIRL

In a disturbing case that has left a community in Worcester, the family of a young girl who was sexually assaulted by Matthew Smith have expressed their outrage over the meager compensation he has paid. The incident, which took place in July in the woods near Nunnery Wood, has left lasting scars on the 12-year-old victim, whose family now claims that justice has been undermined by the offender's minimal financial contribution.

Matthew Smith, a 19-year-old resident of Liverpool Road in Ronkswood, was convicted of indecently assaulting the young girl after befriending her and her friends, who ranged in age from 12 to 16, following his move to Worcester earlier that year. The court heard that Smith had initially gained the trust of the group, only to later exploit that trust in a disturbing manner.

According to court records, Smith claimed he was encouraged by the group in Nunnery Wood to engage in the assault. He then proceeded to create a secluded space among the leaves, where he forced the girl to lie down and attempted to undress her. When she panicked and tried to resist, he forcibly pulled her on top of him and bit her in a manner that was described as a love bite.

The following day, Smith was observed waiting outside the girl’s school, visibly upset when she expressed her disinterest in continuing any relationship with him. The court heard that the girl was confused and frightened during the incident, especially when she saw him outside her school, unable to comprehend why a 19-year-old would pursue her in such a manner.

As part of his sentence, Smith was ordered to pay £30 weekly in compensation to the girl, with a total of £200 mandated by the court. Additionally, he was placed on the sex offenders’ register for five years and received an 18-month community rehabilitation order. Despite these measures, the girl’s family is furious that Smith has paid only a fraction of the court-ordered amount.

Her father expressed his frustration: “Matthew Smith assaulted my daughter in the woods back in July and was told to pay a pittance of £200 compensation. But when we checked with the court’s financial department on Monday, November 5, we were told he’d paid just £10. It’s a bloody joke.”

The girl’s mother described how her daughter’s demeanor has changed drastically since the attack. Once a confident and cheerful individual, she now appears wary and anxious. The mother detailed her daughter’s ongoing struggles, including frequent crying episodes at school, despite her academic success. She has undergone therapy to help cope with the trauma but feels that the damage inflicted by Smith’s actions has irreparably affected her life.

“She bathes three times a day, and even though she’s top of her class, she’s been seen crying at school by her teachers,” her mother said. “She wants to move on and get her life back, but he’s ruined it for her.”

Regarding the financial aspect, the enforcement section at Kidderminster’s court financial department stated that they could not disclose specific details about the payment. The family remains disillusioned, believing that the small amount paid by Smith is a stark injustice given the severity of the assault and the lasting impact on their daughter.