A man has been jailed for 26 years for a string of violent offences committed in Lancaster and Morecambe.
39-year-old Stephen Smith was convicted at Preston Crown Court for a number of crimes, including raping a woman and kidnapping a child.
In February 2023 Smith barged his way into a woman’s hotel room in Morecambe and then raped and assaulted her. Smith strangled his victim with such force that at one stage she thought she was going to pass out.
In June 2023 police were called to reports a young child had been kidnapped in Lancaster. The child’s mother clung onto Smith’s Toyota Yaris, begging him to stop. All while being dragged down the road.
She was unable to cling on and fell into the road as the Yaris was being driven down Mainway in Lancaster.
Smith then stopped the car and reversed over the child’s mother as she lay in the road. She suffered five fractured vertebrae and other injuries.
As Smith drove back towards his home in Blackpool he told the child “that’s the last time you’ll see your mum.”
Police stopped Smith’s car before he got back to Blackpool and rescued the child. Smith was arrested, charged with several violence offences, kidnap, and motoring offences, and remanded into custody.
Despite knowing what he had done, Smith forced his victims – including the young child – to give evidence by electing to run a trial.
Smith, formerly from Blackpool but now of no fixed address, was unanimously found guilty of all offences.
He was given a sentence comprising of 21 years immediate custody and a further 5 years on extended licence.
DC Sam Ripley, from Lancaster CID, said: “Smith represents a serious and very real danger to women and children. That is very evident from his actions in these cases.
“The victims in these cases, particularly the young child, displayed incredible bravery while giving evidence. They have clearly been through horrendous ordeals, which will live with them for some time.
“I hope the outcome of these cases and the sentence given to Smith will encourage other victims of violent offending to come forward. We will listen to you, we will believe you and we will support you.”
If you have been the victim of a crime report it online via https://doitonline.lancashire.police.uk/ or call 101. In an emergency or if a crime is in progress always call 999.
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