Andrew Smith

Andrew Smith, a 54-year-old resident of Basildon in Essex, was convicted of serious sexual offences against children after a trial at Basildon Crown Court. On October 29, a jury found him guilty of two counts of sexually assaulting a child under 13 and one count of assaulting a child under 13 by penetration. The offences occurred at his flat in Gloucester Park, Roodegate, where he had lived for 20 years within a close-knit community.

The court heard that Smith had groomed one of the victims by encouraging her to sit on his lap while playing a computer game, which allowed him to abuse her on multiple occasions. This calculated approach exploited the trust of the trusting Basildon community, as described by Judge Richard Conley during sentencing at Southend Court. In a separate incident, Smith opportunistically assaulted a second young girl who had strayed into his flat while playing outside. The judge noted that Smith 'lurked' and 'lay in wait' to seize such opportunities, highlighting his dangerous predatory nature.

Judge Conley emphasised Smith's 'abject denial' of his crimes and stated that he had abused the trust of the tight-knit community. He described the grooming as indicative of a calculated method of abuse. Devastating victim impact statements were read out, detailing the profound effects on the girls, including struggles with attending school due to fear of encountering their abuser and instances of self-harm. One victim's mother confronted Smith directly in court, telling him that he had 'broke her baby'.

Smith showed no emotional response during the proceedings, even as he was led away to the cells. In addition to the ten-year custodial sentence, he was issued a restraining order against both victims and their families, a sexual harm prevention order, and a lifelong requirement to register with police. The case was investigated by Essex Police, with the guilty verdict underscoring the strength of the victims' testimonies, particularly the second girl's immediate and clear reporting of the assault.