Father Patrick Smythe

A Catholic priest has been imprisoned for historic sexual offences after preying on vulnerable schoolboys in his care. Father Patrick Smythe, aged 79, was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison at Leeds Crown Court following unanimous guilty verdicts on six counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted indecent assault.

The offences, committed approximately four decades ago, involved six complainants who were between 12 and 16 years old at the time. Smythe targeted three of the victims during swimming trips to the former Leeds International Pool, where he exploited his position to abuse them. He also assaulted boys while they were on a retreat at a hostel in North Yorkshire. The court heard detailed accounts from the victims, who described the profound and lasting impact of the abuse on their lives.

• One victim spoke of turning to alcohol from an early age due to the trauma, stating, 'I never felt able to discuss the issue with my family because of the shame and anxiety and fear it caused me to feel. I hope that as a result of the trial, after 45 years, I can finally move on with my life in a more positive direction.'
• Another branded Smythe a 'beast', explaining, 'He used the church to get within touching distance of young boys.'
• A third victim expressed how the abuse led to a loss of faith in the Catholic Church, saying, 'I told myself that if he was never judged in this life then he will get his judgement before God when he meets his maker.'

Judge Simon Batiste, in passing sentence, condemned Smythe for his deceit during the trial. The judge remarked, 'You are a Catholic priest. During the trial you denied any criminal wrongdoing whatsoever. You took an oath on the Bible - the book that you have purported to have used to preach from for many years - and then told a series of falsehoods and lies that the jury have seen through. In short, your account in relation to these matters is a pack of lies.' Batiste also paid tribute to the victims' bravery, noting, 'For some of these boys it is evident that the impact of your abuse was significant and has lived with them until the present day. I pay tribute to the six victims in this case who have shown great bravery and fortitude to give evidence against you.'

Smythe, of Manor Square, Otley, showed no emotion as the sentence was delivered. In addition to the custodial term, he was placed on the sex offenders' register for life. Mitigating, Susannah Proctor acknowledged Smythe's lifelong dedication to the church but noted, 'He has given his life to the church. The church are his family. I have no doubt that from today the church will withdraw that support for him. That is something of his own making.'

Detective Inspector Vicky Alexander of the Leeds District Safeguarding Unit commented after the case: 'Smythe abused his position of trust to systematically exploit the victims as children over a number of years. His actions will have had a lasting impact on the victims’ lives, and we commend the considerable courage they have shown by coming forward as adults to report the offences and support the prosecution that has seen him brought to justice. This was a lengthy and complex investigation which saw safeguarding officers from Leeds and Wakefield painstakingly building up a detailed evidential picture which has resulted in Smythe being convicted. We hope it will provide some degree of comfort to the victims to know that he has now had to answer for his actions.'

The case was reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post on 8 April 2022, highlighting the ongoing efforts to address historic sexual abuse within institutions of trust.