PAUL GOLDSMITH FROM TONBRIDGE SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES IN KENT

In a significant case that has shocked the community of Tonbridge and the wider Kent area, Paul Goldsmith, aged 38, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 12 years after being found guilty of multiple heinous crimes involving young girls. The crimes, which spanned over four years, involved the sexual assault and rape of two girls aged between 10 and 16, with one victim subjected to threats of death by Goldsmith.

The conviction came after a detailed trial at Maidstone Crown Court earlier this month, where the jury returned guilty verdicts on a total of 13 charges against Goldsmith. These charges included seven counts of raping one girl, two counts of raping the other girl, three counts of sexually assaulting her, and one count of indecent assault. The court heard that the abuse took place between July 2001 and February 2005, a period during which the victims endured unimaginable suffering.

Goldsmith’s criminal behavior was only uncovered after one of the victims courageously wrote letters revealing the abuse she had suffered. This revelation prompted the investigation that ultimately led to his arrest and subsequent trial. During the proceedings, it was revealed that Goldsmith had attempted to evade justice by failing to appear in court when summoned. A warrant was issued for his arrest, but he handed himself into police four days later, demonstrating a degree of cooperation after initial flight.

At sentencing, Judge Andrew Patience QC emphasized the severity of Goldsmith’s actions, describing him as a danger to young girls and a threat to the community. The judge ordered that Goldsmith serve half of his 12-year sentence before being eligible for release on licence. Additionally, Goldsmith was disqualified from working with children, placed under a sex offender prevention order, and registered for life on the Sex Offenders’ Register.

Judge Patience expressed his condemnation of Goldsmith’s conduct, stating, “You forced those girls to indulge in conduct which they did not want and for which they were not ready. You behaved in this cruel way entirely to satisfy your own lust and you have never shown a flicker of remorse. The anguish and misery which you enforced upon those girls is obvious.”

Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Sam Mercer of Kent Police commented on the impact of the case, acknowledging that no prison sentence could undo the damage inflicted. Mercer expressed hope that the victims would be able to recover and return to a sense of normalcy, emphasizing the importance of healing from such traumatic experiences and the community’s need to support the victims in their journey forward.