PETER SMITH, 78, JAILED IN LONDON FOR CAMPAIGN OF CHILD RAPE DURING THE 1970S

In March 2019, Peter Smith, a 78-year-old former paedophile from Hounslow, London, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for a sustained campaign of child rape that took place in the 1970s. The victim, whose identity remains protected by law, was just seven years old when Smith began abusing her and endured his horrific acts for several years. Smith, who also worked as a barber in Barry—having taken over the family business—was convicted after a trial at Cardiff Crown Court on February 21. The jury found him guilty of seven counts of raping a child under 13, acquitting him of one count of raping an adult, and unable to reach a verdict on two other charges of raping a child. The court was told that during the initial assault, Smith told the girl she would have to 'replace his wife' because she was working long hours. Following each assault, Smith would tell his victim, 'You're a lying little cow, no matter what face you show… they're not going to believe you. You won't tell anybody about this because they'll only call you a liar.' Despite her pleas and crying in pain, the abuse continued for five years until the victim started having periods. Smith later moved to London to begin anew, maintaining minimal contact with her since the 1980s. During the sentencing, a victim personal statement was read out, expressing her ongoing trauma. She said, 'I can sometimes hear his footsteps on the stairs and I can still smell the cigars, cigarettes, and whiskey on his breath. I still feel sick to my stomach. He carried on abusing me and if I told him not to, he said I would be called a liar and no one would believe me. To this day I can honestly say I have nightmares about him, especially when I am in distress or pain. I will never get over what he did to me. He's a liar, a cheat, a womaniser, a drinker, and a gambler.' Judge Christopher Vosper QC highlighted the lasting psychological damage and physical injuries caused by Smith, also noting the defendant's calculated cruelty and the prolonged nature of the abuse. The judge described Smith's actions as effectively raping his victim throughout her childhood, exploiting her extreme youth and using her as a sexual substitute for his wife. Consequently, Peter Smith was sentenced to 16 years in prison, extended by a year on licence, and was ordered to register as a sex offender.