Sentence handed out to paedophile Patrick Smith, who groomed schoolgirls while staying at Plas Y Wern probation hostel, Plas Madoc, near Wrexham, slammed as ‘disgrace’

A FOUR-AND-A-HALF-YEAR sentence handed out to a paedophile with a dangerous history who tried to groom two schoolgirls has been blasted as too lenient.

Patrick Smith, 44, admitted trying to groom two girls aged 12 and 13 for sexual activity while staying at the Plas y Wern probation hostel, Plas Madoc, near Wrexham, last January.

He was sentenced at Caernarfon Crown Court on Friday last week to four years and six months behind bars.

Although he will be eligible for parole after half that term the judge made an indeterminate order for public protection, which means he will remain locked up until it is considered safe to release him.

Judge Merfyn Hughes QC said: “In my judgment there’s a significant degree of predatory behaviour and distorted sexual interest toward children, with a level of violence.”

But some locals slammed the sentence and said with his dangerous history, Smith should have been locked up for life.

Protestor Sue Charles said: “I am disgusted, it is a disgrace. Given his past history he should have been locked up for life.”

Another protester, Stuart Hughes, said: “I am very disappointed with the sentence, with what he has done before he should have been sent down for a lot longer.

“We have concerns about the bail hostel housing serious sex offenders there – it shouldn’t be allowed to happen.”

Clwyd South Labour MP Martyn Jones is lobbying ministers to get the level of offenders housed at Plas y Wern, a stones throw away from the Plas Madoc estate, downgraded.

Smith had been sent to the probation hostel after completing a 12-month sentence imposed last year at Preston Crown Court for assaulting a girl of 13 on her early morning paper round in Blackpool, demanding sex and threatening to kill her.

On Friday Judge Hughes heard Lancashire police had failed to update the court record for the judge at Preston to know Smith had been sentenced to 12 years in Ireland for two rapes – one involving a girl of seven.

But North Wales Probation Service chiefs defended the decision to house serious offenders at Plas y Wern.

A probation service spokesman said: “Over the years, Plas y Wern has provided a place where we have been able to monitor and manage offenders and organise their return to the community.

He said: “If the hostel did not exist, offenders would be released straight into the community with much less supervision.

“It’s a question of balancing a difficult scenario and we believe approved premises like Plas y Wern are the safer option for society.

“Because of the stringent regime at Plas y Wern and the close co-operation between the probation service and the police, Smith was caught very quickly when the offences came to light and was returned to custody.

“We are mindful of the concerns of local people. We would like to assure them that our first priority at all times is public protection and, for that reason, it is important Plas y Wern continues to provide this service.”