NICHOLAS SMITH FROM MARKET WEIGHTON SENTENCED FOR GROOMING AND SEXUAL OFFENSES IN HULL

In July 2018, a disturbing case unfolded at Hull Crown Court involving Nicholas Smith, a 36-year-old man from Eastfield Road, Market Weighton, who was found guilty of grooming a young girl and engaging in sexual activities with her. The court took five hours to deliberate before convicting Smith on two counts of sexual activity with a girl under the age of 16, following a comprehensive four-day trial.

During the proceedings, it was revealed that Smith had been manipulative and showed a blatant disregard for the girl’s youth and innocence. Evidence demonstrated that he had persuaded her to skip school so that they could engage in sexual acts. The court heard that Smith, who was 34 at the time, was fully aware that the girl was below the age of consent, yet he continued his predatory behavior.

Judge Bryan Cox QC, presiding over the case, sentenced Smith to seven years in prison on the following Friday. In his sentencing remarks, the judge emphasized that Smith had groomed the girl in 2016, fully aware of her underage status. The judge pointed out that Smith’s actions were particularly egregious because he often saw the girl in her school uniform, making his indifference to her youth even more reprehensible. The court established that Smith had engaged in sexual intercourse with the girl on two separate occasions, further highlighting the severity of his misconduct.

Judge Cox QC also noted that the case was aggravated by evidence of planning, grooming, and persistent insistence on Smith’s part. He explained that Smith actively sought to persuade the girl to meet him and even convinced her to stay away from school. The court found that Smith’s motives were not driven by genuine affection but by his own sexual gratification. Additionally, it was revealed that Smith was flirting with another girl at the time, indicating a manipulative and predatory nature.

Furthermore, the court heard that Smith had made threats to a witness who threatened to expose his crimes. Specifically, he had threatened to burn down her house, an act of intimidation that underscored his dangerous behavior. As part of the sentencing, Smith was also subjected to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, aimed at protecting the community from any future offenses.

Overall, the case highlights the serious nature of grooming and sexual offenses committed by Nicholas Smith in Market Weighton, with the court taking a firm stance to ensure justice for the victim and to prevent any further harm.