A pervert who admitted grooming two underage girls for sexual activities had his sentencing delayed by a judge – so he can get married and go on his HONEYMOON.
Twisted David Smith, 30, had met the youngsters at a swimming baths where he was visiting with his young son during the summer of 2013.
On Monday 21 September he pleaded guilty to two counts of meeting a child following sexual grooming after appearing at Warwick Crown Court.
His solicitor Simon Hunka requested that the case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.
The barrister then asked for the sentencing to be delayed for two months – because his client was getting married and going on a two week honeymoon at the end of October.
He told the court: “He was 30 last week, and much in his life has changed.
“Mr Smith is due to be married on the 31st of October, and has a honeymoon booked for two weeks.
“It is an unusual request, but I ask for the matter to be returned for sentence on the 16th of November.”
And agreeing to that, Recorder Adrian Redgrave QC said: “These offences are two years old at the moment.
“I can see no pressing reason why he should not be allowed to keep the date of his wedding and honeymoon.”
Smith had previously denied causing or inciting a 13-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity.
He also pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl in July or August 2013 and was due to go on trial this week.
It was alleged he had forced the older girl to perform a sex act on him and had kissed the younger girl on the lips.
But on the day of his trial prosecutor Graeme Simpson said there were “evidential difficulties” in relation to those two charges – and asked for two alternative charges to be added to the indictment.
Smith, Bedworth, Warks., then pleaded guilty to those two charges, one in relation to each of the girls, of meeting a child following sexual grooming, not believing she was over 16.
The charges outline that he did so “intending to do something which, if done, would involve the commission of a child sex offence.”
The court heard at the time he met the girls Smith was at a swimming baths with his own seven-year-old son, “who he has not seen since as a consequence.”
Smith was granted bail with conditions that he does not have unsupervised contact with any child under the age of 16 and does not go to any public swimming baths.
He was also ordered to register as a sex offender.
Recorder Redgrave told him: “I have no doubt it has been explained to you that these are serious offences.”
The sentencing guidelines for meeting a child following sexual grooming lay down a starting point after a trial of two years custody if the child is under 13, and 18 months if she is 13 or over but under 16.
