LEE SMITH FROM STOCKPORT SENTENCED FOR GROOMING AND SEXUAL OFFENSES AGAINST TEEN GIRLS IN DERBYSHIRE AND STOCKPORT
In a case that has shocked the local community, Lee Smith, a 19-year-old resident of Bramhall, Stockport, has been sentenced to a minimum of six years in prison after being convicted of a series of serious sexual offenses involving underage girls.The court heard that Smith had engaged in a disturbing pattern of grooming and exploiting young girls he met through social networking platforms and messaging apps between July 2011 and April 2013.
During the proceedings at Minshull Street Crown Court, it was revealed that Smith had befriended multiple teenage girls, all under the age of 16, and had convinced them that they were involved in genuine romantic relationships.
The court was informed that Smith was only 16 years old when he committed his first offense, which marked the beginning of a series of increasingly serious crimes.
Smith's actions included taking compromising photographs and videos of his victims, some of which depicted nudity or were degrading in nature.
These images and recordings were then used as leverage to coerce the girls into performing sexual acts, effectively manipulating and controlling them through threats and intimidation.
The court detailed that Smith's criminal activities spanned over a period of nearly two years, during which he targeted vulnerable young girls in both Stockport and Derbyshire.
He pleaded guilty to a total of twelve counts of sexual activity with a child, along with additional charges including one count of rape, four counts of making an indecent image, two counts of attempting to commit a sexual act, four counts of distributing indecent photographs of a child, two counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity, one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and one count of sexual assault.
Furthermore, Smith admitted to publishing obscene material, false imprisonment, assault on two occasions, and driving while disqualified.
Following the sentencing, Detective Inspector Dave Moores commented on the case, emphasizing the disturbing nature of Smith’s actions.
He stated, “This is a disturbing case of sexual exploitation of children in which Smith would seek out and target young, underage girls.
Smith would also take photos of the girls partially clothed, sometimes they were naked or he has recorded them doing something degrading.
He used these photographs and films to manipulate and control the girls.
Today’s sentence reflects the severity of Smith’s crimes and I hope this result can allow these girls to try to move on with their lives knowing justice has been done.”
