A 47-year-old man residing on Bernwood Road in Headington has received an 18-year prison term after being found guilty at Oxford Crown Court on April 29.

Shaun Smith was handed an extended sentence lasting 18 years along with a restraining order banning him from contacting his four victims, issued by Judge Ian Pringle KC.

The accused had entered not guilty pleas to charges of rape, sexual assault, and two counts of assault by penetration.

The court heard that the alleged rape happened in 2000, while the sexual assault was said to have occurred in 2012. The two assault by penetration charges concerned events in March 2017 and August 2022.

On Wednesday April 1, a jury returned guilty verdicts on counts one, two, and four by majority decision. Count three was met with a unanimous guilty verdict.

The court was told that Smith had been assessed as posing a high risk to women aged 17 and over. He was also said to continue denying the offences.

All four women attended court for the sentencing and became visibly upset upon hearing the length of the term.

After the hearing, investigating officer Detective Sergeant Chris Bennett from Oxfordshire’s Criminal Investigation Department said the women in this case had shown remarkable courage that deserved acknowledgement. Without their determination and bravery, Smith’s criminal behaviour may never have been exposed, and securing his conviction would have been considerably harder. This result reflected their strength, and while it could not undo what happened, he hoped it offered them some closure and allowed them to move forward with their lives.

Smith had behaved like a serial sex offender who targeted women while they slept when they were most vulnerable and could not consent. Cases like this illustrated why he had chosen this career, and bringing offenders like him to justice gave him great pride.

He thanked all Thames Valley Police officers and staff who worked hard to ensure Smith was jailed and unable to harm anyone else.

This case showed how seriously all reports of rape and sexual offences were treated, regardless of when they allegedly took place. He urged anyone who had experienced rape or any sexual offence to report it. People could contact police through the website or by phoning 101 to speak confidentially with specialist officers, and additional support services were also available.