HULL PAEDOPHILE JAILED FOR SIX YEARS AFTER GROOMING AND SEXUAL ABUSE OF YOUNG BOY
A "cowardly" pensioner who "blighted" the life of a vulnerable young boy through repeated sexual abuse has been jailed for six years after being branded a "convicted paedophile".Andrew Smith saw the boy as an "easy target" and the abuse had a "huge impact" on the victim and caused "trauma" to him.
His ordeal had "haunted" him and ruined his life, Hull Crown Court heard.
Smith, 69, of Plane Street, off Anlaby Road, west Hull, denied eight sexual offences but he was convicted by a jury of six of them after a trial.
They included four offences of indecent assault and two of indecency with a child.
The offences stemmed from an incident in the 1970s when the boy, who lived in the same area as Smith, came into contact with him.
Smith groomed the boy, who was a vulnerable child at the time, and carried out multiple sexual offences against him.
The grooming process involved Smith reading sexual stories to the boy, showing him leather thongs from his suitcase, and escalating to more sinister acts, including sexual acts in front of and with the boy.
The victim expressed that this abuse has had a profound impact on his life, leaving him feeling lonely and unable to trust anyone.
Smith was a fan of horror stories and used this interest as part of his grooming, which included giving the boy thongs to wear and involving the boy in reading pornography while he committed sexual acts.
Smith claimed he barely knew the boy and denied any sexual activity, although evidence showed otherwise.
The court heard that Smith had two suitcases full of pornography and used it in the grooming process.
The victim read a statement to the court, expressing that the abuse had taken everything from him, causing him to live with the haunting memories.
Judge Mark Bury highlighted Smith's cowardice during the proceedings, noting he refused to admit the truth and behaved in a disbelieved manner.
Smith was sentenced to six years in prison, had to register as a sex offender for life, and was told to get used to the fact that "yours have" come home to roost, emphasizing the long-term consequences of his actions.
