Carl Smith

A child sex offender from South Staffordshire has been sentenced to 20 years in prison following a conviction for serious sexual offences against a young girl. Carl Smith, aged 36 and of no fixed abode, was found guilty by a jury at Birmingham Crown Court on 10 November 2023 after a four-day trial in September 2023.

The offences, which involved a sustained campaign of physical and emotional abuse, came to light when they were reported to Staffordshire Police in July 2022, leading to Smith's arrest. Despite denying the allegations, Smith was convicted on two counts of rape of a girl and six counts of sexual assault of a girl. The abuse occurred in South Staffordshire, though specific dates for the incidents were not detailed in the court proceedings.

• Two counts of rape
• Six counts of sexual assault

In addition to the custodial sentence, Smith was made subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and a restraining order to protect the survivor. The case was handled by Detective Sergeant Claire Mace of Staffordshire Police, who commended the survivor's bravery in reporting the abuse.

'The survivor in this case has shown immense bravery to come forward and report what happened,' said Detective Sergeant Mace. 'I can only hope the outcome of this investigation has given her some form of closure following the abuse she suffered at the hands of Smith.' Staffordshire Police emphasised their commitment to pursuing perpetrators of violence and abuse against women and girls, with ongoing work to prevent such offences and support victims.

This conviction underscores the robust action taken by Staffordshire Police against child sex offenders, ensuring that justice is served for serious crimes of this nature. The trial and sentencing were reported directly by Staffordshire Police on their official website.