20 years in prison for 'wicked' paedophile
WESLEY JOHNSON
ONE of Britain's worst paedophiles was jailed yesterday after he admitted a 30-year campaign of rape and sexual abuse against young children.
As he was jailed for 20 years at York Crown Court, Robert Smith, 65, was told by the judge he deserved to die in prison.
Smith, of Cross Street, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, admitted 42 sex offences, including rape, against 21 children, between 1954 and 1984.
It was described as one of the worst sex-abuse cases ever to come before the courts.
The Recorder of York, Judge Paul Hoffman, told Smith: "If the sentence that is passed results in you dying in prison, that's no more than you deserve."
The judge said there was no case "that's as bad as this one".
Smith had shown a "prolonged and insatiable depravity" and admitted to probation officers many more sex offences against children, the judge said.
"Yours is the worst case of its type that I've ever encountered in nearly 42 years of criminal practice," the judge said.
"It stands apart in its sheer scale of wickedness and your callous disregard for the victims' feelings.
"For 30 years you abused the trust placed in you by parents and children alike to use [the children] as sexual playthings," the judge told Smith.
"These children were terrified of you, and you abused them through fear."
Smith admitted six counts of rape, 26 counts of indecent assault, seven counts of buggery, two counts of indecency with a child and one count of assault with intent to commit buggery.
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Last updated: 03-Aug-06 00:39 BST
