PETER SMITH FROM SEATON SENTENCED FOR RAPE AND SEXUAL OFFENCES IN DEVON

In a case that has shocked the community of Seaton and the wider East Devon area, Peter Smith, aged 23, has been sentenced to a lengthy and potentially indefinite prison term following a series of heinous sexual offences. The incidents occurred while Smith was on bail, awaiting sentencing for previous allegations involving a young girl, and have raised serious concerns about the safety of vulnerable women in the region.

Smith appeared before Exeter Crown Court where he faced multiple charges related to sexual misconduct. The court heard that Smith, residing on Summersby Close in Seaton, had pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual activity with a child and to an offence of exposure involving a girl under the age of 13. Additionally, he was found guilty after a trial of two counts of rape and one sexual offence involving an incident with an elderly woman in her 60s, all of which took place in East Devon.

Judge Graham Cottle, presiding over the case, emphasized the dangerous nature of Smith’s actions. He announced that Smith would be sentenced to an Imprisonment for Public Protection, a sentence that could see him detained indefinitely unless a parole board determines it is safe to release him. The judge specified that Smith would serve a minimum term of five years before the parole board could consider his case, but this did not guarantee his release at that point.

During the proceedings, the court was informed that Smith had a history of minor convictions, but nothing of this severity. The prosecution, led by Richard Crabb, detailed how Smith had sexually assaulted a girl last year and had exposed himself to her and another girl on the same day. It was also revealed that Smith had been released on bail while awaiting sentencing for these offences.

Crabb further explained that while on bail, Smith committed a grave offence by raping a woman he knew in her home. The victim, a woman in her 60s, reported that Smith threatened to kill her when she threatened to inform the police about the assault. During the trial, Smith claimed that the encounter was consensual, but the court heard evidence indicating that the woman feared for her life and suffered a panic attack during the incident. The impact on her has been profound, with nightmares and a forced move from her residence.

In mitigation, defence counsel Kelly Scrivener highlighted Smith’s troubled childhood and acknowledged his remorse for the offences committed against the young girl. She also noted that Smith had been attacked with a cigarette lighter by an inmate and was aware of the societal disgust towards sex offenders. Smith expressed a desire to undergo rehabilitation courses to address his behaviour.

Judge Cottle condemned Smith’s actions, stating, “You were on bail, pending sentencing, for the offences against the girl, when you committed the offences against the woman, of which you were convicted by a jury. I have no doubt that you targeted a vulnerable female. You followed her into her home and subjected her to a terrifying ordeal over a fairly significant period of time.”

As part of his sentence, Smith was issued a Sexual Offences Prevention Order and was ordered to register on the Sexual Offenders Register until further notice. The case has left the community of Seaton and East Devon with a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and the need to protect vulnerable individuals from predatory behaviour.