January 2000
OAP lured young children with alcohol offer
A MAN who enticed children to his house in Coventry with offers of sweets and alcohol has been jailed after admitting a string of sexual offences against them.
George Smith, aged 68, who moved to Red Lane, Kenilworth, from Tile Hill, was jailed for three years by a judge at Coventry Crown Court on Friday.
He had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to six counts of indecent assault and two of gross indecency against four youngsters, the oldest of whom was aged just 10. Smith was living in Tile Hill at the time of the offences last autumn.
The court heard he was regarded as a popular grandfather figure to pupils at a nearby school, who often went to visit him.It was during these visits that he began to take advantage of two girls and two boys, who cannot be named.
Diane Spence, prosecuting, said he would try to kiss or touch them in return for money, ice creams or lager.
She said the offences came to light when one of the boys told his mum after becoming distressed at what was happening.
Neil Williams, defending, said Smith was a man of impeccable previous character who had the full support of his family but had become lonely after splitting from his wife.
“He accepts that he took advantage of the situation and accepts that clearly some of the children placed their trust in him and he abused that trust.”
Mr Williams said that, in one instance at least, one of the children had in fact asked Smith if he wanted any sexual favours.
“It’s unusual for a child of that age to ask such a question but it would appear the child thought it was a matter of amusement and curiosity more than anything.”
He said the children had suffered no long-term consequences of the incidents.
Jailing him, Judge Richard Cole said he would be failing in his duty if he did not impose a custodial sentence.
He added: “It’s always a tragedy when someone comes before the court for the first time, especially someone of your age who had led a blameless life.
“It may have been innocent to start with but it became very clear that it was not long before you started to abuse their trust.”
