A VICTIM of child abuse has hit out at Hampshire Police after he claims he was accused of making up accusations.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has spoken to The Gazette following the conviction of Michael Geoffrey Smith.

The victim says he was abused by Smith and tried to complain about him but his calls were shut down by police.

Smith, of Madrid Road in Guildford, was convicted of sexually abusing two boys in the 1980s at a court hearing in Guildford earlier this month.

The pensioner, now 66, ran a film club at his former home in Freemantle Close, Oakridge, and used it as a guise to groom children. 

A third victim has come forward to The Gazette, claiming he tried to raise the alarm about Smith decades ago.

But he claims Hampshire Constabulary told him that he was lying about the allegations. The police force said it cannot comment on individual cases.

The victim was around 8 or 9 when the alleged incidents occurred, and said the abuse was a “catalyst” which lead to problems with authority, alcohol and drugs.

“One thing I was told as a child was that if you are in trouble, then you should call 999,” he told this newspaper. “The one thing I remember is that I was called a liar by the police.

“I can’t understand why they didn’t believe me. To be not believed is one of the most horrific things that could happen.

“The last time I made a statement to the police, my life went to bits. I ended up in a really bad place.

“What I remember is the police coming to the house and they were telling me that I wasn’t telling the truth. I was told I shouldn’t make up stories. I was talked out of it.”

The victim, who has since left Basingstoke because he has “too many bad memories”, said that he was in a park playing one day when Smith, described by him as a “master manipulator”, asked him and his group of friends whether they wanted to go to his house to watch some films.

“It was the 80s, we had never seen any videos,” he said.

Whilst there, the children were allegedly shown pornography by Smith, before he exposed himself and allegedly touched the victim inappropriately.

“It was absolutely horrific,” he continued.

“I remember him taking me upstairs. It wasn’t very nice. It was one of the most confusing things to happen to a little kid.”

It was after this that he decided to call the police. However, he says they did not believe him.

The alleged victim, who has decided to come forward after reading in The Gazette of Smith’s conviction, said that he felt sick when saw it.

“He destroyed my childhood and took everything I thought was good. I think about it almost every day.

“So many years have passed, I will never be over it but my main thing now is to try and help other people and see him locked up.”