PETER SMITH FROM CARLIN HOW SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT IN TEESSIDE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community, Peter Smith, aged 42, of Maynard Street, Carlin How, was sentenced to a significant prison term following a brutal sexual assault that took place in Teesside. The incident, which occurred on Friday, September 13 of the previous year, involved Smith engaging in a sexual act with a woman he had met through an online dating platform, only to turn violent during the encounter.

According to court proceedings, Smith initially appeared to be in a consensual relationship with the victim, and both parties seemed to be content with how their relationship was progressing. However, the situation took a dark turn when Smith, who was described as “considerably larger” than the woman, suddenly assaulted her in a manner that left her feeling traumatized and violated. Witnesses and the victim herself recounted that Smith had a smirk on his face just before the attack, which added to the chilling nature of the crime.

The victim, in her statement to the court, described her ordeal as deeply distressing. She recounted her efforts to resist and her pleas for him to stop, saying she was crying and trying to kick him off, but he refused to cease his assault. She expressed feelings of shame and dirtiness following the incident, and her account highlighted the emotional toll the attack had taken on her. She also revealed that she had tried to remain strong but was overwhelmed by fear in the aftermath.

Following the assault, the victim reported the incident to the police. Smith was swiftly arrested and taken into custody. During his police interview, he initially denied any wrongdoing but later changed his stance and pleaded guilty to the charge of rape during his trial at Teesside Crown Court. In addition to the rape conviction, Smith admitted to breaching notification requirements by failing to inform authorities of his change of address, which is a violation of his sex offender registration obligations.

Smith’s criminal history was also discussed during the proceedings. His previous convictions include indecent assault and, most notably, the rape of a 15-year-old girl in the 1990s. That earlier attack involved dragging the young girl into an alley and assaulting her, for which he received a seven-year prison sentence. The court acknowledged that these past offenses demonstrated a pattern of predatory behavior.

In mitigation, Kate Dodds argued that although Smith’s previous rape was a heinous crime, it occurred many years ago when he was considerably younger. She emphasized that in the current case, Smith and the victim had initially entered into a consensual relationship, and both appeared to be satisfied with how things were progressing. However, she admitted that after a few days, the situation deteriorated, and Smith’s actions were unjustifiable.

Judge Andrew Sutcliffe QC addressed the court, noting that while the earlier rape happened over 16 years ago and under different circumstances, Smith’s actions in the recent case indicated a serious propensity for committing similar offenses. The judge emphasized the gravity of the latest attack and the danger Smith posed to the public.

As a result, Smith was sentenced to six years in prison. Additionally, he will be subject to an extended license period of five years following his release. The court also imposed a Sexual Offences Prevention Order to restrict his future conduct and protect the community from potential harm.