Kieran Smith, a 22-year-old from Grimsby, has received a nine-year incarceration sentence for committing sexual offences against a child under 13 years of age. The verdict was given at Bradford Crown Court, subsequent to a trial at Leeds Crown Court. The reported series of offences transpired between the years 2022 and 2024 whilst Smith was a resident of Castleford.
Detective Constable Sally Hayward, a key figure in the case, applauded the courage manifested by the victim and her family, noting, “Their fortitude and bravery have paved the way for justice to be upheld.”
The victim’s family, in a statement read aloud in court, voiced their intense admiration for their young daughter’s decision to come forward. They also underscored the significant impact Smith’s transgressions have had on her life. “We find solace in the fact that you will no longer be in a position where you could potentially harm children in the future,” they conveyed.
The family continued to add that, despite the prison sentence, they felt it did not compensate adequately for the damage inflicted. However, they took solace from the public awareness of his conviction.
DC Hayward expressed optimism that the conclusion of the trial and Smith’s sentence will offer the victim’s family some measure of closure as they strive to rebuild their life.
Following his release, Smith will be subjected to a sexual harm prevention order, which means he would be disallowed from having unsupervised interactions with any individual below 18 years of age.
The inspiration for this article was primarily derived from an original report by www.bbc.com, as The Lincoln Post adapted the story.
