Subjecting two young girls to years of sexual abuse.

Wolverhampton Child Rapist Jailed for 24 Years

A Wolverhampton man has been sentenced to 24 years in prison for subjecting two young girls to years of sexual abuse.

Joseph Smith, 37, was found guilty of nine counts of sexual assault and nine counts of rape following a two-week trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

The court heard that Smith, who was living in Wolverhampton at the time of the abuse, had preyed on the girls for more than four years, beginning by sexually touching the first girl before eventually raping her.

The abuse continued for several years until the first girl found the courage to report the abuse to authorities. During the investigation, detectives from the West Midlands Police Public Protection Unit discovered that Smith had also abused a second girl by sexually assaulting her.

Smith denied the charges, forcing both survivors to endure a lengthy trial. On November 24, 2023, the jury found him guilty on all counts.

Smith, most recently of Wiltshire, was sentenced on Thursday to 24 years in prison and will remain on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Detective Constable Kerry Bromhall, of the Public Protection Unit, said: "Smith subjected these girls to years of physical abuse, not to mention the psychological torment that such abuse often leaves behind. I commend these young girls for their bravery, firstly in coming forward to report what happened to them, but also in continually reliving their experience through a lengthy investigation, hampered by Covid, and giving evidence at trial. I truly hope this sentence gives them the closure they need and the knowledge that Smith is no longer able to do this to anyone else."

West Midlands Police added that anyone who has been subjected to sexual abuse, no matter how long ago, will be listened to by specialist officers.