Child rapist sentenced to nine years in prison

A man who raped and sexually abused a girl under the age of 13 has been jailed for nine years.

Kieran Smith, 22, from Grimsby, was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court on Thursday, following a trial at Leeds Crown Court.

Smith lived in Castleford at the time of the offences, which occurred between 2022 and 2024.

Following sentencing, Det Con Sally Hayward said: "I do not underestimate how difficult the victim and family will have found this process. Their strength and bravery have ensured justice has been served."

Smith was found guilty of rape of a girl under 13, assault of a girl under 13 by penetration and causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

In a statement read out in court, the victim's family said: "We want to express our deep pride in our brave young girl for coming forward to protect others.

"It's important to acknowledge the impact of your actions and how they have affected her life.

"We are relieved knowing that you will no longer be in a position to harm children again."

The family added: "We live in a world where 'it will never happen to us', but it did, and he has ruined our poor girl's childhood memories.

"Although he has [been given] a prison sentence, we feel it will never be enough for what he has done. However, it brings us some sort of comfort knowing this is now public knowledge."

Hayward added: "Despite the complexities of the investigation, with the additional considerations that are needed with such a young victim, we have been able to gather evidence to ensure that Smith has been swiftly convicted and sentenced for these awful offences."

The officer said she hoped the conclusion of the court case and Smith's jail term would give the family "some closure, at least on this chapter, as they continue to process and move forward with their lives".

On release from prison Smith will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order stopping him from having any unsupervised contact with any child under the age of 18.

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