Child rapists sentenced to 65 years in prison

If you have suffered sexual abuse, please come forward and speak to police.

No matter when the offence took place, or who the perpetrator was, you will be believed, and we will do everything we can to get the justice you deserve.

That is our message to survivors of abuse after two men were jailed for a total of 65 years for sexually abusing children.

John Victor Smith abused the three children over several years alongside his co-accused, Jeffrey Brown.

Between the 1980s and 2000s, the pair regularly raped the young children, and forced them to carry out sex acts on them.

Their dreadful offending came to light when one of the victims, who is now an adult, told a relative what had happened, who then called the police.

An investigation was launched by Durham Constabulary and the pair were arrested and later charged with a catalogue of rapes, sexual offences and indecent assaults.

Brown, 73, admitted the offences, while Smith denied any wrongdoing.

However, the 76-year-old later pleaded guilty to all offences following the start of his trial at Teesside Crown Court.

In a victim impact statement, one of the victims said: “The abuse that I suffered robbed me of my childhood and still affects me to this day. I still have huge gaps in my memory of being a child, and now understand that this is due to the way that trauma impacts memory.

"What I can remember is painful and upsetting, and I often wonder about the person that I could have become if I had not suffered what I did as a child.

“I welcome any sentence that reflects the gravity of my abuser’s crimes. He was an adult man who sexually abused an innocent, helpless child who will always struggle with the impact of somebody else choosing to harm them.”

Appearing at Teesside Crown Court yesterday (April 9), Smith, of Heron Drive, Darlington, was given a 37-year extended prison sentence, with 35 years in prison followed by two years on extended licence.

Brown, of Gresham Road, in Middlesbrough, was jailed for 28 years at an earlier hearing last week.

Investigative Officer John Smith, who led the investigation, said: “These two predators groomed and raped young children for their own sexual gain, robbing them of their childhoods and leaving them with mental scars that have lasted a lifetime.

“The abuse suffered by the three victims, who were only young children when their ordeals began, was simply horrendous - it is some of the worst I have seen in my 38-year police career.

“All three have demonstrated immense bravery throughout this investigation and subsequent court process, and the courage they have shown in facing their abusers should be commended.

“While they were initially reluctant to report what had happened as they didn’t feel they would be believed, once the contact had been made with police, they felt reassured and supported throughout the investigation.

“I hope these sentences provide them with some closure and allow them to move on and rebuild their lives.

“I also hope these cases show other survivors of sexual abuse that we take these offences extremely seriously and will do everything we can to get the justice they deserve.

“I would urge anyone who is reading this and has experienced sexual abuse to come forward – please know that you are not alone and there are people who can and will help you.”

Anyone who has suffered sexual abuse should report it to police on 101, or call 999 in an emergency.

Alternatively, reports can be made online at www.durham.police.uk 

For further advice and support:

• The Meadows Sexual Assault Referral Centre – call 0330 223 0099 or visit www.sarcdurham.co.uk
• NSPCC – call 0808 800 5000 or email [email protected] or visit www.nspcc.org.uk
• Childline – call 0800 1111 or visit www.childline.org.uk