Trevor Smith

Trevor Smith, a 56-year-old man from Windsor, has been jailed for 21 years after being convicted of multiple child sex offences committed between 15 and 30 years ago. The abuses involved a girl and a boy, both under the age of 13 at the time, and took place while Smith was in a position of trust, such as babysitting.

The court at Reading Crown Court heard that Smith's abuse of the girl began when she was around four years old. He indecently assaulted her on at least four occasions until she was about eight. Smith threatened the child, warning her that if she told anyone, he would publish 'disgusting' photos of her in newspapers. In her victim impact statement, the woman described the profound impact: 'He abused me at such a young age, which has affected me in so many ways. I had so much potential but I lost confidence because I was consumed by what he did to me. I feel very angry that he took my childhood away from me.' She further noted feeling excluded and disregarded as a teenager, attributing it to the trauma inflicted by Smith.

The second victim, a boy aged between eight and 12 during the abuse, was raped and sexually assaulted by Smith. The court learned that Smith groomed the boy with sweets, snacks, and by showing him pornography. The man's statement detailed the lasting effects: 'What he did to me has affected parts of my life from my school years to my present adult life. I felt trapped, I was not able to deal with what he did to me. I was made to feel unworthy and felt depressed and suicidal. I continue to have flashbacks and memory problems. I can still smell him. I feel like I will always have this darkness over me.' He has suffered from bed-wetting, insomnia, night terrors, and stomach disorders since the incidents.

Following a trial in March, Smith was found guilty of two counts of indecent assault, three counts of indecent assault of a male, two counts of rape, sexual assault of a child under 13, and rape of a child under 13. During sentencing on 19 May 2021 at Reading Crown Court, Judge Edward Burgess described Smith as 'dangerous' and criticised him for pleading not guilty, which forced the victims to relive their trauma in court. Addressing the abuse of the boy, the judge stated: 'Your abuse of him tragically became part of his formative life. The effects have been profound and life changing. There is no doubt you have caused him severe psychological harm.' Regarding the girl, he noted the 'severe distress' caused by Smith's 'grave' and 'systematic' offending.

Smith's defence, presented by Rachel Darby, highlighted his poor health following a stroke two months prior, which left him unable to use his left arm, suggesting the prison sentence would be particularly challenging. However, the judge imposed a 21-year custodial sentence, with Smith required to serve half before being eligible for parole. The case was reported by the Slough Observer, with images provided via Thames Valley Police.