Violent Goldthorpe rapist jailed for 18 years

Robert Smith. Picture courtesy of South Yorkshire Police.

A RAPIST who threatened to kick a pregnant woman in the stomach of she disobeyed him has been caged for 18 years.

Robert Smith (56), of Hope Avenue, Goldthorpe, was jailed after being found guilty of ten counts of rape against two women.

Smith was also found guilty of a further two counts of sexual assault and two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm for offences carried out between 2006 to 2014.

He was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court last Thursday for the offences, which he committed in the Thurnscoe area.

Smith threatened to kick one of the victims, who was pregnant at the time, in the stomach if she did refused to the court heard.

A police spokeswoman said that an investigation was launched in October 2014 after one of the victims told her support worker that Smith had sexually assaulted her on a number of occasions.

The spokeswoman said: “She told her that Smith would get angry and start swearing at her if she did not do what he wanted.

"Smith was arrested immediately and the investigation led detectives to interview a second victim.

“She told police that Smith had been physically and sexually abusive towards her. On one occasion, he put his hands around her throat and assaulted her while she was unconscious.”

Det Con Jill Rankin, who led the investigation, said: “This has been a difficult and complicated investigation especially for the victims who were subjected to violent and horrific attacks over a prolonged period of time.

“I would like to praise both victims for their bravery in coming forward and giving evidence against this man.

“They have now received some justice for what they were put through and I really hope this sentence goes some way toward allowing them to move on with their lives.

“The abuse these women suffered at the hands of Smith is absolutely despicable.

“Absolutely no-one should have to go through this level of abuse and South Yorkshire Police will continue to do everything we can to protect vulnerable people and bring those breaking the law to justice.”