December 2014
Oxfordshire children’s home manager found guilty of abusing five young boys under his care
A 72-year-old man was today (Friday) convicted of 15 counts of indecent assault on boys between February 1976 and March 1983.
Rodney Smallman, of Erica Close, Banbury, was found guilty by a jury at Oxford Crown Court following a two-week trial.
The conviction relates to five victims, all of whom were boys under the age of 16 at the time of the offences.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Smallman ran a children’s home in Oxfordshire and lived in a separate building on the site.
During the trial, the court heard how Smallman would regularly abuse young boys in the home and touch them sexually.
This happened over an extended period and many of the victims said the abuse only stopped when they left the home.
The 72-year-old would ask young boys to line up naked outside his bedroom for up to 15 minutes at a time while he watched them through a crack in the door.
One of the victims told police about the abuse in 2012 and following an investigation by the Child Abuse Investigation Unit, more victims were identified.
Smallman was arrested in February 2013 and denied the allegations. He was first charged in August 2013.
Investigating officer, Det Con Joanne Waddington from Banbury Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said: “This has been an extensive investigation into the behaviour of a predatory paedophile who abused his position in the worst way imaginable.
“Smallman took advantage of his role as the head of a children’s home and abused the most vulnerable children for his own sexual gratification.
These were children that were placed at the home for their own protection and when he took advantage of that, they felt they had no one to tell who would believe them.
This is something they will have to live with for the rest of their lives.
“I want to thank the victims for their bravery in coming forward to report these offences. It is because of their courage that Smallman has been convicted at court today.
“If you have been a victim of sexual abuse or know someone who has, then please contact police.
It doesn’t matter how long ago the abuse happened, we will listen and we will do everything to help bring these offenders to justice.”
Smallman will be sentenced on January 12.
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Smallman is now a ‘Bird expert’ who visits museums and school settings to talk about and show his owls and other birds
