Child rapist from Heckington jailed for 10 years at Lincoln Crown Court

A paedophile has been jailed for 10 years after being found guilty of raping a child under the age of 13.

Terry Smith of Scoggins Way in Heckington, near Sleaford, denied the charge but was convicted on Friday, October 24, at Lincoln Crown Court.

The 40-year-old will also spend the rest of his life on the sex offenders register following the offences, which took place in the Lincoln area between 2019 and 2021.

Mhairi Boulton, manager of Lincolnshire Police’s Protecting Vulnerable Persons West Hub, said: “Smith committed a vile crime that has no place in our community or our society at large.

“No child deserves to go through such an ordeal.

“The wait for justice has been a long one and we’d like to thank the victim and family at the heart of this investigation for their patience, understanding and bravery.

“While the road to recovery may be a long one, we hope that this sentence, at least in some small way, helps bring a sense of closure.”

A statement from Lincolnshire Police added: “If you’ve been the victim of rape or sexual assault or any other sexual offence, please report it to us as soon as possible.

“Even if you’re not 100 per cent sure, we want to hear from you so that we can make sure you’re safe.

“If you’re not ready to talk to the police just yet, that’s OK.”