BARNSLEY MAN SENTENCED TO 18 YEARS FOR MULTIPLE RAPES AND ABUSE
‘Despicable’ Barnsley rapist Robert Smith, aged 56, of Hope Avenue, Goldthorpe, was condemned and sentenced to 18 years in prison for his heinous crimes.He was found guilty of 10 counts of rape against two women, with offences spanning from 2006 to 2014 in the Thurnscoe area of Barnsley.
Smith was also convicted of an additional two counts of sexual assault and two counts of actual bodily harm.
These included threatening to kick one of his victims, who was pregnant at the time, in the stomach if she did not comply with his demands.
Investigations led by Detective Constable Jill Rankin revealed that Smith's actions were violent and prolonged, causing significant trauma to the victims.
She praised their bravery and expressed hope that the sentence would aid their recovery.
The police investigation commenced in October 2014 after one victim disclosed that Smith had sexually assaulted her multiple times, and that he would become angry and aggressive, verbally abusing her when she resisted.
The second victim reported that Smith had been physically and sexually abusive, on one occasion putting his hands around her throat and assaulting her while she was unconscious.
The authorities emphasize their commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals and bringing offenders like Smith to justice, encouraging anyone suffering from abuse to contact their helpline.
