A man who groomed young boys he met through a film club he ran has been found guilty of historic child abuse. 

Michael Geoffrey Smith abused two boys in Basingstoke during the 1980s after meeting them through a club his operated from his maisonette in Oakridge.  

Smith had denied the allegations but was found guilty of all seven counts of historic abuse by a jury at Guildford Crown Court today (Wednesday, September 8).  

It took the jury three hours to find Smith guilty, following a nine-day trial which began last Tuesday. 

The court had previously heard that Smith had "singled out" one of his victims before forcing himself on him. 

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He had kissed the boy on a train in the early 1980s, and over the summer holiday that followed sexually abused him multiple times.

The victim told the court how Smith chilling said he was "educating" the youngster about sexual activity, and said that it was "their secret".

The court heard how Smith carried out lewd sex attacks on two boys, which has left the victims - now in their adulthood - traumatised. 

Defending Smith, his solicitor said he believed his actions were "normal" as he was abused by a child. 

Smith, who was already twice convicted for child sex abuse, committed his first child abuse when he was 16 or 17.

He appeared at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court in 1973 where he was given a probation sentence, before being sent to prison in the 1990s for further child abuse offences, including admitting abusing a boy in a bath tub.

Smith was found guilty of the following offences, after originally pleading guilty:

  • Indecent assault - kissing - against victim 1
  • Indecent assault - inappropriate touching - against victim 1
  • Indecent assault - oral sex - against victim 1
  • Indecent assault - digital penetration - against victim 1
  • Buggery - against victim 1
  • Indecency - against victim 1
  • Indecent assault - against victim 2

Smith has been bailed pending sentencing on October 16, 2020. He was been given a curfew of 6pm to 8am, monitored by an electronic tag.