DAVID GREENSMAITH SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS IN PRISON IN BASILDON FOR HISTORIC SEXUAL ABUSE

In May 2008, David Greensmith, aged 62 and a former social worker, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for a series of sexual offenses that spanned over four decades, dating back to 1961. Greensmith was convicted of rapes and indecent assaults committed against young girls, some as young as seven, in what the judge described as an "almost continuous code of conduct."

During the sentencing at Basildon Crown Court, Judge Rupert Overbury expressed his belief that Greensmith remained a "predatory" individual and continued to pose a threat to children. The judge stated, "All these incidents of sexual abuse have involved serious breaches of trust and involved small young girls. You were always some years older than your victims and you took every opportunity available to satisfy your own perverted desires. You have shown no remorse whatsoever." He also warned Greensmith that he would "always pose some danger, especially to young girls."

Greensmith, of Tower Street, Brightlingsea, denied all allegations in the case. However, a jury found him guilty of raping a schoolgirl and indecently assaulting two other girls. His convictions included five counts of rape, seven of indecent assault, and two attempted rapes, all based on selected charges.

The court heard that Greensmith began raping his first victim when he was only a teenager, threatening her to keep her silent and plunging her into clinical depression due to the ongoing abuse. Judge Overbury described his actions as "vile and reprehensible," adding, "The horrors that she must have endured as a little girl are almost unimaginable."

It was revealed that Greensmith continued abusing girls during drunken episodes at his home in Wivenhoe in the early 1980s. Witnesses described his residence as resembling "Disneyland" amid these dark activities.

Judge Overbury commented that if Greensmith had been sentenced in the 1960s or 1980s, his prison term might have been longer. Due to his frailty and health issues, including heart problems and hemochromatosis—a condition causing joint pain and affecting mobility—defense mitigator Stephen Rose argued that Greensmith would likely find imprisonment particularly challenging.

As part of his sentence, Greensmith was placed on the sex offenders’ register for life and prohibited from any direct contact with children under 16 until further notice.

The judge also commended the police investigation, which took three years and was led by Detective Constable Nicky Miles of the Brentwood child abuse investigation unit. Judge Overbury praised her professionalism and said, "In my opinion, she showed the highest qualities of a police officer. Essex Police should be proud of her."

After the trial, DC Miles expressed her relief at the successful conviction, acknowledging the difficulty in gathering evidence so long after the crimes and the effort required from witnesses to testify. She said, "I’m elated with the result and really pleased for the victims. It has been very hard for all of them to talk about what has happened, let alone give evidence in court."