JOHN SMITH FROM RETFORD SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES

In October 2017, the case of John Smith, a man from Retford, took a significant turn as his prison sentence was more than doubled from an initial five-and-a-half years to a total of 12 years behind bars. Smith, a former soldier, was found guilty of multiple heinous crimes involving minors, including rape and sexual assault.

The charges against him detailed disturbing acts committed against young girls. Smith admitted to the court that he had engaged in the rape of one victim, as well as sexually assaulting another girl under the age of 13. His crimes extended to inciting a child to participate in sexual activity and forcing a child to watch a sexual act, actions that have caused immense trauma to the victims involved.

Further evidence presented in court revealed that Smith had molested one girl and coerced another into performing a sexual act on him. He also showed one of his victims pornographic DVDs, adding to the severity of his offenses. The court's decision to increase his sentence reflects the gravity of his crimes and the impact on the victims.

Earlier, in February 2017, Smith, aged 70 and residing on West Hill Road in Retford, was formally charged with three child sex offenses. He appeared before Mansfield Magistrates’ Court on a Monday, where he faced two counts of raping a girl under 13 and one count of sexually assaulting a girl under 13. During this hearing, Smith did not enter a plea, and he was not granted bail by the court. The case was scheduled to proceed to Nottingham Crown Court on March 15 for further proceedings.

These serious allegations and subsequent convictions highlight the disturbing nature of Smith’s crimes and the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to seek justice for the victims affected by his actions in Retford and beyond.