PATRICK SMITH FROM CO MEATH AND WREXHAM SENTENCED FOR GROOMING GIRLS AT WREXHAM BAIL HOSTEL

In a case that has sparked outrage among local residents and raised serious concerns about public safety, Patrick Smith, a man originally from County Meath in Ireland, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for attempting to groom two young girls for sexual activity while residing at a bail hostel near Wrexham. The incident took place at the Plas Y Wern probation hostel in Plas Madoc, close to Wrexham, in January of this year.

Smith, aged 44, had previously served time for heinous crimes in Ireland, including a 12-year sentence handed down in 1998 for the rape of a seven-year-old girl. His criminal history also includes convictions for sexual assaults on a 13-year-old girl and a 58-year-old woman, for which he served an additional six years in Irish prisons. After his release, he moved to Blackpool in 2008 under the alias Patrick Reilly, where he continued his pattern of predatory behavior.

Shortly after relocating to Blackpool, Smith was involved in a disturbing incident involving a 13-year-old paper girl. He forcibly dragged her to the ground during her early morning paper round, demanded sex, and threatened to kill her. This assault led to his arrest and subsequent sentencing in October 2008. Despite these serious convictions, Smith was placed in a probation hostel in Wrexham, raising concerns among local residents and authorities about the adequacy of supervision and the safety of the community.

On the day of his latest arrest, police in Lancashire apprehended Smith after he attempted to persuade two girls aged 12 and 13 to meet him in a pub car park at Acrefair. Prosecutor Andrew Green detailed that Smith offered to take the girls for a ride in his car and even offered to buy them alcohol. The girls refused, citing their school commitments the following day, but Smith persisted, eventually convincing one of them to meet him later that week. Fortunately, the girl confided in her mother, leading to Smith’s arrest.

During the court proceedings, Smith pleaded guilty to two charges related to attempting to facilitate sexual activity with minors. Judge Merfyn Hughes QC, presiding over the case at Caernarfon Crown Court, emphasized the severity of Smith’s actions and his dangerous history. The judge described Smith’s behavior as predatory and noted a distorted sexual interest towards children, compounded by a level of violence. He also highlighted that Smith’s previous convictions and pre-sentence reports indicated a significant risk of reoffending.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Hughes stated, “In my judgement there’s a significant degree of predatory behaviour and distorted sexual interest towards children, with a level of violence.” He further explained that Smith’s risk to the public was deemed very high, especially concerning young females. As a result, the court imposed an indeterminate public protection order, meaning Smith will remain incarcerated until authorities determine he no longer poses a threat to society.

While Smith is eligible for parole after serving half of his sentence, the indefinite order ensures he will stay in prison until it is deemed safe to release him. The judge also noted that Smith’s previous criminal record and the nature of his offenses warranted a cautious approach, emphasizing that a considerable amount of time would be necessary for him to address the factors contributing to his dangerous behavior.

Local residents and advocacy groups expressed their dismay at the relatively lenient sentence, arguing that given Smith’s history of sexual offenses, he should have faced a life sentence. One protester voiced their outrage, saying, “I am disgusted, it is a disgrace. Given his past history he should have been locked up for life.” Another added, “I am very disappointed with the sentence, with what he has done before he should have been sent down for a lot longer. We have concerns about the bail hostel housing serious sex offenders there – it shouldn’t be allowed to happen.”

Questions have also been raised about the management of the bail hostel, which was housing Smith despite his extensive criminal background. Critics argue that such facilities need stricter oversight to prevent dangerous offenders from reoffending and to protect vulnerable members of the community. The case continues to draw attention to the challenges faced by authorities in managing high-risk offenders and ensuring public safety.