April 2022 ‘Cowardly’ paedophile threatened abuse victim with a shovel in bid to silence her A ‘cowardly’ paedophile who abused a young girl over a decade and then threatened her with a shovel to stay silent has been jailed for 17 years. Steven Smith was told by the judge that his “sordid past had finally caught up with him” after he was found guilty of multiple abuse offences Leeds Crown Court was told that he had systematically abused the girl. When she tried to confront him finally and report the abuse as she got older, he went to her home and threatened her with a shovel. The 58-year-old from Castleford denied multiple charges dating back more than 30 years, but was found guilty of seven counts of indecent assault and one count of indecency with a child. A victim impact statement was read out to the court by prosecutor Julian Jones, who said the woman had been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder, had felt suicidal, still had to sleep with the light on and had struggled to lead a “normal” life. The court heard that she still wets the bed, even as an adult, because of the sickening ordeals that Smith would put her through. She would purposely wet herself as a child to deter Smith from abusing her. Smith, who was being held on remand in HMP Leeds following his trial, appeared via video link and shook his head continuously as the judge addressed him. Recorder Geraldine Kelly told him: “You systematically and repeatedly sexually abused her over a 10-year period. “She was entitled to be happy, care-free and innocent as a child, and you robbed her of her innocence. “The harm you inflicted haunted her as a child, and now. She still wets the bed as an adult. She lives in fear of you. “It must have taken a lot of courage to finally give her account to the police. “In cross examination (in court) she was accused of lying. The scars from your actions were apparent. “You were a bully. When she finally spoke out, your reaction was to bully her into silence, and threatened her with a shovel. “She was so scared she capitulated and said she was lying. But your sordid past has finally caught up with you.” She jailed Smith for 17 years, including a two-year extended period of licence. He must the sex offenders register for life.