A man who raped a child has been . Terry Smith of Scoggins Way, , appeared at on Friday, October 24, where he was found guilty of the offence.

The 40-year-old man committed the crime against a child under the age of 13 between 2019 and 2021. Smith had denied the charge but was found guilty and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Mhairi Boulton, west hub manager for protecting vulnerable persons, has paid tribute to the victim and their family. She 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."

She added: "While t

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