GEORGE PRIOR/FRED SMITH SENTENCED TO 16 YEARS IN FARINGDON FOR VILE SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN

In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Faringdon, a pensioner named George Prior, also known as Fred Smith, has been handed a lengthy prison sentence after being found guilty of a series of heinous sexual offenses committed over nearly two decades. The conviction and sentencing took place at Oxford Crown Court, where the severity of his crimes was laid bare to the court and the public alike.

Prior, aged 65 and residing at The Lees in Faringdon, was convicted last year on multiple counts related to the sexual abuse of young girls. The charges included 16 counts of raping a female under the age of 16, one count of indecent assault, and an additional charge of attempted serious sexual assault. The court heard that these offenses spanned from 1974 to 1991, a period during which the defendant’s actions inflicted lasting trauma on his victims.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Anthony King described the case as a disturbing example of depravity. He emphasized that the charges presented in court represented only a fraction of the actual offending, which followed a disturbing pattern of repeated abuse. The judge highlighted the prolonged nature of the crimes and the calculated manner in which they were carried out, often involving intimidation and force to silence the victims.

Judge King noted that Prior’s health was significantly compromised, as he suffers from emphysema and requires crutches to walk. Despite his physical condition, the judge imposed a total sentence of 16 years, with the sentences for the various charges running concurrently. Specifically, Prior received four years for indecent assault, eight years for attempted serious sexual assault, and 16 years for each of the 16 counts of rape. The combined sentence reflects the gravity of his actions and the impact on his victims.

In his remarks, Judge King expressed deep condemnation of the defendant’s conduct. He stated, “Most of these offences were put before the court and treated as specimen counts concerning a course of conduct which spans 1974 to 1991. These offences were committed against four young girls. These offences were repeated, they were vile, they were persistent, they were carried out as a result of your intimidation and force upon them, such as they daren’t speak out, and thus, alas, when they did speak out, they were not believed. In short, you have had a devastating effect on the lives of each of them.”

The judge further remarked that the severity of the sentence was influenced by the persistence and extended period over which the crimes occurred. He also noted that had Prior been younger or in better health, a harsher sentence might have been considered. The case has left a lasting scar on the community of Faringdon, highlighting the importance of justice for victims of such heinous acts.