ROLAND SMITH FROM COUNTESTHORPE AND TIPPERARY SENTENCED FOR DECADES-OLD CHILD RAPE CASE

In a case that spanned over four decades, 84-year-old Roland Smith, a great-grandfather with ties to Countesthorpe and later Tipperary, was finally brought to justice for heinous crimes committed in the early 1970s. Smith was convicted of twice raping a young girl, who was only 12 or 13 years old at the time, with the offenses occurring at his former residence on Bassett Avenue in Countesthorpe.

The victim, now a woman in her 50s, bravely testified in court, recounting the traumatic events that had haunted her for years. Her testimony revealed that Smith, who was 44 years old at the time and employed as a sewerage farm worker, had exploited her innocence during a period when she was just a schoolgirl. The court heard that the assaults took place in Smith’s home, where he manipulated her with a disturbing comment about how babies are made, telling her to go to the shed so he could show her.

According to court records, Smith also raped the girl again when they were alone in a house, with her dressed in her school uniform. Despite the passage of many years, the emotional scars remained fresh for the victim, who had confided in friends and her husband about her ordeal. The case was reopened after she finally decided to report the abuse to police in December 2008, leading to Smith’s arrest in Ireland, where he had moved to Cashell, Tipperary.

During police interviews, Smith admitted to having sexual intercourse with the girl but denied the act of rape, claiming that she had enjoyed it, stating, “She were loving it.” His defense was based on the legal standards of the time, which allowed for such arguments. Throughout the trial, the victim was visibly distressed, crying during cross-examination as she recounted her suffering.

Judge Mark Rogers, presiding over the case at Leicester Crown Court, sentenced Smith to eight years in prison. In his remarks, the judge emphasized the gravity of the crimes, stating, “The victim was entirely innocent and sexually unaware, just a normal schoolgirl. She made an innocent inquiry about sexual reproduction, and you exploited her innocence not once but twice. What followed was degrading and disgusting.”

The judge further described the sexual acts as cold and mechanical, highlighting the cynical disregard Smith showed for her well-being. He acknowledged the physical pain and emotional trauma inflicted upon her, noting that the jury rejected Smith’s claim that she had initiated the sexual conduct. The court expressed hope that the sentence would provide some measure of closure for the victim, recognizing that the passage of time had not diminished the impact of the crimes.

While noting Smith’s otherwise good character and his age, the judge remarked that if not for his frailty, he might have faced a sentence of 12 or 13 years. As part of his punishment, Smith was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life. The defense, represented by Gary Short, argued that Smith had led a blameless life apart from these incidents, emphasizing his role as a devoted family man and the support he still received from his family. Nonetheless, the court’s decision underscored the seriousness of the offenses committed decades ago, and the long-overdue pursuit of justice for the victim.