ANTHONY SMITH'S DARLINGTON SEX OFFENSES: GROOMING AND ABUSE OF SCHOOLGIRLS LEAD TO JAIL SENTENCE
In June 2014, a disturbing case involving Anthony John Smith, a 67-year-old resident of Badminton Close in Darlington, came to light as he was convicted of grooming and sexually abusing three young schoolgirls over an extended period.The court heard that Smith engaged in manipulative behavior, offering his victims money, cigarettes, and food, including sausage and chips, as part of his grooming tactics.
His actions culminated in him assaulting one girl in his car, with the incident occurring in the presence of her friend, highlighting the predatory nature of his conduct.
Smith’s inappropriate touching involved intimate areas over their clothing, a pattern of behavior that persisted over approximately eight months.
The case was initially adjourned at Teesside Crown Court to allow the judge to consider the profound impact of Smith’s actions on his victims.
During the proceedings, it was revealed that Smith’s offending took place during a period when his wife was seriously ill and confined to bed.
She has since passed away, adding a layer of tragedy to the case.
Prosecutor Shaun Dodds detailed how Smith referred to the young girls as “sexy,” a term that underscored his inappropriate attitude towards them.
One victim recounted how Smith would touch her “fairy” and “boobs,” and he even suggested to another girl that she perform a sex act on him.
The girl, being too young to understand, was confused by his suggestion, which Smith later dismissed as “mucking about.” In a statement read aloud in court, one of the victims expressed her feelings of disgust and fear, describing Smith as a “creepy man, evil and very frightening.” She conveyed her concern that Smith might seek to harm her again once he was released from prison, emphasizing the lasting psychological impact of his abuse.
Smith’s criminal history includes a previous conviction from 1998 for indecent assault on a young girl, for which he received a suspended sentence.
His recent case involved six counts of sexual assault, although these were considered specimen counts, indicating the seriousness of his misconduct.
During police interviews, Smith admitted to being a “touchy feely” person, a characterization that the court found insufficient to mitigate his actions.
His defense, represented by Peter Kilgour, argued that the touching was over clothing and that Smith had entered guilty pleas unconditionally, acknowledging his guilt.
Judge Howard Crowson sentenced Smith to two and a half years in prison, emphasizing that he had exploited his victims through a process of grooming, gradually pushing boundaries over time.
Additionally, Smith was subjected to an indefinite sexual offences prevention order and will be required to register as a sex offender for life, reflecting the court’s determination to prevent future harm.
In a related development earlier in May 2014, a separate hearing was delayed due to procedural oversights.
Judge John Walford criticized the prosecution for failing to provide victim impact statements, which are crucial for sentencing.
The case involved allegations that Smith had taken the girls to McDonald’s, given them lifts, and referred to them as “sexy,” while also engaging in inappropriate physical contact.
The court heard that Smith’s behavior occurred while his wife was ill and bedridden, and that he had a previous conviction for indecent assault from 1998.
One girl described how Smith would hug her and touch her “down below,” instructing her not to scream or tell anyone out of fear.
Smith admitted to being “muckin about” when suggesting a sexual act to one girl, further illustrating his inappropriate conduct.
The case was adjourned for seven days to address the procedural issues, and Smith was remanded in custody pending further proceedings.
