PAUL SMITHERS FROM LLANGEINOR FACES JUSTICE IN BRIDGEND AFTER INTERNATIONAL MANHUNT

In February 2013, the criminal case surrounding Paul Smithers, a notorious sex offender from Llangeinor near Bridgend, reached a tragic conclusion as he died of cancer while incarcerated at Parc Prison in Bridgend, before he could face additional charges.

Smithers, aged 59, had a long and tumultuous history of fleeing justice. Originally convicted in Cardiff Crown Court in February 2000 for serious child sex offences, he managed to evade sentencing by skipping bail. His flight from the UK led him to Southeast Asia, where he remained a fugitive for nearly a decade. It was only in April 2012 that authorities successfully extradited him back to the United Kingdom, after he had been detained in a Thai prison for three years and later moved to Bali, Indonesia.

His extradition was the result of a complex international investigation involving South Wales Police, the Royal Thai Police, and the Crown Prosecution Service’s Complex Case Unit. During his time abroad, Smithers married and established a business in Indonesia, all while avoiding the reach of UK justice. Despite his attempts to build a new life, he was ultimately apprehended and returned to the UK in April 2012.

Upon his return, Smithers faced a series of serious charges. He was sentenced in May 2012 to 12 years in prison for the crimes of rape and indecent assault, which he committed against a child. The court heard that he had been one of South Wales Police’s most wanted men during his years on the run. His criminal record also included a conviction from 1971 for gross indecency with a child when he was just 17, along with previous convictions for theft, burglary, and violent crimes.

In the lead-up to his death, Smithers was scheduled to appear before Cardiff Crown Court to enter pleas on more than 50 additional charges, including 21 counts of raping a girl under 16, two counts of raping a woman over 16, and multiple counts of indecent assault and inciting acts of gross indecency involving minors. These charges stemmed from allegations that spanned several years and involved multiple victims.

However, his health deteriorated rapidly. On February 20, 2013, Smithers succumbed to cancer while in the hospital wing of Parc Prison in Bridgend. His death prevented the completion of his trial on the additional charges, which would have further detailed the extent of his criminal activities.

The Crown Prosecution Service described the process of bringing Smithers back to the UK as “a long and complex process,” emphasizing the international cooperation required to apprehend a fugitive of his stature. His death marked the end of a notorious chapter in the ongoing fight against child sex offenders, and his case remains a stark reminder of the global efforts needed to bring such individuals to justice.