Sexually abusing the primary school boy.

Michael Geoffrey Smith, a 66-year-old man from Oakridge, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for sexually abusing a young boy in the 1980s.

Smith, who had previously been convicted of similar offenses in the 1970s and 1990s, befriended the boy's parents and convinced them that he could be trusted to be alone with their son. He ran a film club in his maisonette for children in the estate, and it was during the summer holidays that he repeatedly abused the boy, claiming that he was teaching him about sex.

The judge ruled that Smith had "caused him grave, permanent and serious psychological harm and impacted greatly on his life", labelling the abuse "sick sexual abuse". The victim, who was a primary school-age boy at the time, has admitted to attempting suicide on multiple occasions as a result of the abuse.

Smith denied the seven charges of sexual abuse but was convicted by a jury at Guildford Crown Court. The sentence, which had a starting point of 12 years, was reduced on the grounds of Smith's deteriorating health and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on prisoners.

In addition to the prison sentence, Smith was ordered to pay £3,250 in compensation to the victims and a £149 victim surcharge.