VINCENT SMITH FROM BIRKENHEAD AND PRENTON SENTENCED FOR DECADES-OLD SEX OFFENSES

In a case that has spanned over three decades, Vincent Smith, a man originally from Birkenhead and Prenton, was sentenced on Wednesday for a series of disturbing sexual offenses committed against two young girls during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

The proceedings at Liverpool Crown Court revealed that Smith, who was then a teenager, began abusing his victims when he was just 13 years old. His first known victim was only seven at the time. As the years progressed, Smith continued his abusive behavior, and by the age of 15, he had also begun to assault a second girl, who was also only seven years old.

Prosecutor Simon Christie detailed that Smith's offending persisted for more than seven years, with the abuse only ceasing when he reached the age of 20. During the court hearing, Christie stated, "He accepts that from a young age he was engaged in sexual activity with the girls on a regular basis. He can’t remember when it began, but accepts it had begun by the time he was 14."

The criminal activities only came to light when Smith was accused of two additional offenses. Between September 2003 and April 2004, Smith climbed into a shower with another young person and exposed himself, subsequently asking her to touch him. These allegations led to further investigation and charges.

Smith, who is now 50 years old and a father of one, formerly resided on Westbourne Road in Prenton. He denied the two charges of gross indecency, but the accusations prompted his former victims to come forward and speak out about their experiences. Ultimately, Smith admitted to 17 counts of indecent assault dating back to the 1970s. A jury found him guilty of the two additional counts involving sexual activity with a child.

Judge Adrian Lyon sentenced Smith to four and a half years in prison. In his remarks, the judge emphasized the severity of the case, stating, "The main aggravating feature is the length of time it took place over and his age by the time it finished."

Smith, who was then living on Old Chester Road in Birkenhead, had no prior convictions. As part of his sentence, he was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and was prohibited from working with children.

During the trial, Smith’s defense lawyer, Martine Snowdon, argued that her client, who has been married three times, now accepted responsibility for his past actions. She pointed out that Smith was a child himself when the abuse began and may not have fully understood the gravity of his actions at the time. Snowdon also highlighted that Smith had contributed positively to society through charity work and many years of service with St John’s Ambulance, which she claimed was done without complaint.