WILLIAM SMITH FROM LANGLEES SENTENCED FOR ABUSE IN GRANGEMOUTH HOME

In April 2019, a man from Langlees named William Smith was sentenced to a two-year prison term after being convicted of heinous sexual offenses committed against a young boy and girl in a residence located in Grangemouth. The court proceedings revealed a disturbing pattern of abuse that spanned over a decade, beginning when the victims were as young as five and continuing until they reached their early teens.

William Smith, who is now 66 years old, was described by the presiding sheriff as having committed acts that were “vile” and deeply damaging. The court heard that Smith, a former textiles worker employed at the now-defunct Racke’s textile factory in Grangemouth, targeted a young boy during the years 1993 to 2004. The boy, who is now in his mid-20s, was subjected to abuse while he was sleeping, with Smith also exposing himself on multiple occasions. The court was told that the boy had attempted suicide three times as a direct result of the trauma inflicted by Smith.

In addition to abusing the boy, Smith also assaulted a young girl, who was between five and eight years old at the time. The court heard that Smith would creep into her room while she was sleeping, sit on her bed, and commit acts of abuse. These incidents took place within the same residence in Grangemouth, contributing to a pattern of predatory behavior over an extended period.

Despite denying the allegations, Smith was found guilty by a jury at Falkirk Sheriff Court after just two hours of deliberation. The verdict was unanimous, reflecting the strength of the evidence presented. Prior to sentencing, the victim submitted a heartfelt statement to the court, describing how Smith’s actions had shattered his childhood, destroyed his innocence, and led him to contemplate ending his life. The victim expressed that he now struggles with trust issues, suffers from anxiety attacks, and experiences vivid flashbacks related to the abuse. He firmly stated that Smith was fully aware of what he was doing and that his guilty plea was likely a calculated attempt to exert control, which he believed was a “power play.”

During the sentencing hearing, Smith’s defense attorney, Simon Hutchison, highlighted his client’s health issues, including heart disease and heart failure, noting that Smith is on a significant amount of medication. Hutchison emphasized that Smith was a first-time offender with no prior criminal record and that he had shown remorse for his actions.

Sheriff John Mundy sentenced Smith to two years in prison and ordered him to be placed on the sex offenders’ register for ten years. The sheriff described the offenses as “very serious” and acknowledged the profound impact on the victims, especially the young man who was most severely affected. He stated, “Having regard to the seriousness of these offences, which were vile offences, I have come to the conclusion that the only option is a custodial sentence.”

Throughout the proceedings, Smith, who is notably deaf and walks with a stick, listened to the sentence being read through a large black headphone set. He showed no visible emotion or surprise as he was led away to begin his sentence.

The victim expressed relief at the outcome, stating, “It has given me the closure we’ve needed. Seeing him walk out of court a free man would have been a huge blow. He took away my independence as a little boy. I hope he now knows what that feels like.” The victim also encouraged others who have suffered abuse to come forward, saying, “I really hope today’s sentencing encourages other victims to speak out. I’d encourage anyone who’s suffered any type of abuse to report it.”