Riley Smith

Riley Smith, then 18 years old and from Grimsby but living in Hull at the time, met a 13-year-old girl alongside his accomplice Shahram Ibrehemi in Hull while she was out with friends. The pair invited her to 'go around town with them' and disclosed they were staying at a hotel. Despite the girl stating her age as 13, calling them 'paedos', and telling them to leave, Smith and Ibrehemi persisted, obtaining her mobile number to pressure her.

After the girl became heavily intoxicated from drinking three-quarters of a litre of vodka mixed with cherry Coke, rendering her unable to walk straight, Smith and Ibrehemi reapproached her. They flanked the vulnerable girl and led her to Smith's hotel room, as captured on CCTV showing her staggering. Smith positioned himself outside as lookout, agreeing to give Ibrehemi 20 minutes inside. While Ibrehemi repeatedly raped the girl, Smith paced the corridor 'like a cat on a hot tin roof', occasionally entering to urge Ibrehemi to 'shut her up' as she risked alerting others. A pillow was used over her head, and she was punched in the leg.

Suspicious hotel staff confronted Smith in the corridor. He falsely claimed he was seeking a phone signal but was overheard telling Ibrehemi to 'hurry up' through the door. The men then walked the girl out, with CCTV again evidencing her extreme intoxication. She was later collected by her father from Anlaby Road. Upon confiding in a friend, her parents notified Humberside Police, leading to Smith's arrest.

At Grimsby Crown Court, Smith denied the rape charge but was convicted by a jury after trial; he refused to attend for sentencing. Judge Gurdial Singh highlighted Smith's role: 'You were a look-out, keeping watch... Without you providing the room and lying to the witness, this offence could not have been committed.' The judge noted the joint commission under alcohol influence. In mitigation, counsel Michele Stuart-Lofthouse presented a psychological report and letter from his mother, detailing Smith's chaotic background in care, exposure to domestic abuse, and childhood exploitation in Grimsby County Lines drug dealing. He had moved to Hull for a fresh start and apologised for his actions.

The victim's statement, read by prosecutor Claire Holmes, underscored the lasting devastation: 'The pain and hurt is hard to comprehend... It should have been with someone I love... I will never forget what happened to me.' Smith, of no fixed address, received a seven-year custodial sentence. He must serve at least two-thirds before parole consideration, will be on the sex offenders' register for life, and is barred from child-related work. Judge Singh addressed the victim, affirming she was not at fault and entitled to youthful mistakes, while the men exploited her.