IEUAN SMITH OF CALDICOT SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES AGAINST 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In December 2012, a teenager from Caldicot was imprisoned for 12 months after admitting to sexual offences involving a 12-year-old girl.

Ieuan Smith, aged 18 at the time, pleaded guilty on November 5, during his trial’s opening day, to charges of raping and sexually assaulting the young girl.

Newport Crown Court was informed that Smith, living on Lapwing Avenue in Caldicot, was 17 years old when the crimes occurred. However, he had misrepresented his age to others, pretending to be around 14 or 15.

Martyn Kelly, prosecuting, described the incidents that took place earlier that year as having a “devastating” impact on the victim, who subsequently developed an eating disorder and engaged in self-harming behaviors.

The case also affected her family, particularly her mother, who now worries constantly about her daughter's wellbeing.

James Tucker, defending Smith, acknowledged that he was immature for his age but stated, “he could say nothing to mitigate the horrendous effect the incidents had on his victim.”

Judge Rhys Rowlands addressed Smith directly, emphasizing the seriousness of sexual offences and stating, “You should have known better. The way you have behaved has had a profound effect both on the girl and her family.”

Smith was sentenced to a 12-month detention and training order to be served in a young offenders’ institution. Additionally, he was subject to a sexual offences protection order that bans him from living with or being unsupervised around children under 16 for five years.