WINGS Note: Eric Smith was professing and attending meetings until he was asked by the workers to not take the bread and wine in the fellowship meetings. He then stopped attending.
The workers accept, but have not publicly backed, the Court verdict. Accordingly, a number of friends in the area don’t accept that he was guilty, despite the Court verdicts.
Smith was charged in 2015 and sentenced in 2017 to 10 years and six months imprisonment on 12 charges of sexual offending against a girl aged 12 when the offending began.
In 2018 he appealed to the Court of Appeal, claiming that jurors may have been affected by extraneous, irrelevant and prejudicial information. His appeal was rejected.
Victim Impact Statement – WINGS for Truth
Man jailed for serious sexual offending against girl
September 2017 https://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/97097046/man-jailed-for-serious-sexual-offending-against-girl
A woman sexually abused from the age of 12 told her abuser she gave back “all the shame, all the guilt and all the fault”, a court has heard.
Nelson forestry worker Eric Walker Smith, 53, was sentenced in the Nelson District Court on Thursday to 10 years and six months imprisonment on 12 charges of sexual offending.
The charges carried a maximum of 20 years imprisonment.
Smith was earlier found guilty at trial on seven counts of unlawful sexual connection, one charge of attempted sexual violation, and four counts of indecent assault.
Judge David Ruth said the offending was extensive and involved a wide variety of sexual activity over a five year period.
“You took every possible opportunity to satisfy yourself sexually with this girl.”
Smith was 28-years-old and the victim 12-years-old when the offending began.
Ruth said the offending involved a degree of “depravity and humiliation” for the victim, which uplifted it into a “very serious category”.
A victim impact statement read out to the court by a court official detailed the impact the offending had on her life.
“I struggled to find the courage to put into words the scars you have left me with,” the statement said.
“I wish today I could say I felt the way I did when I was 10, before you impacted my life. I wish I felt ready for and capable of anything.”
The social, psychological, academic and financial impact on her life had been “immense”.
“It sounds so cliched to say you stole my innocence, but yes, you did.
“For five years you systematically traumatised, hurt, devalued and objectified me for your own delusional gratification.”
The victim said she had suffered from mental health issues, self-harmed, had suicidal thoughts and at times needed to be heavily medicated in order to function.
The abuse had a “devastating impact” on her family. Despite what had occurred, the victim said she did not identify as one.
“For years I believed that this was somehow my fault and I had made this happen.”
“Today I give you back what is yours, all the shame, all the guilt and all the fault. It was never mine to carry and I have carried it far too long.”
Ruth said the victim impact statement was “balanced and insightful” and gave an indication as to the serious nature of the offending.
Crown prosecutor Mark O’Donoghue said the jury’s guilty verdict showed they rejected Smith’s claim that the liaison was consensual.
He said a starting point of 12 years imprisonment was appropriate and that any credit for previous good character should be tempered by the “prolonged and sustained nature of offending”.
Defence lawyer John Sandston said a starting point of nine years imprisonment was appropriate and a credit for Smith’s otherwise good character should be considered.
He said the offending was not premeditated but opportunistic and spontaneous in nature.
Ruth said while there might not have had a “sophisticated plan” it was premeditated as Smith appeared to be obsessed with the victim and during the trial had only admitted to a “limited consensual sexual relationship”.
“That is simply fantasy and tells me that you at this stage, do not even now, understand the harm that your offending has done.”
Ruth sentenced Smith to 10 years and six months imprisonment, which included a six month discount for his otherwise good character. As a result of the charges Smith would be added to the child sex offender register.
Sex offender’s bid to have jurors questioned rejected
Oct 2018 Sex offender’s bid to have jurors questioned rejected
https://www.lawyerservices.in/Eric-Walter-Smith-Versus-The-Queen-2018-10-10
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Hi i do not think the age of the girl was 12, We witnessed this girl all over Eric a number of times while she lived with his brother
. David Hobbs
Thinking it was old Honest Ab that said “better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt”. Lincoln’s quote may apply to those that leave comments like the one above regarding CSA. It may also apply the group’s leadership when they claim to know nothing about SA/CSA until Bruer was exposed. Maybe that is why Michigan and Ohio and other state leadership has been silent regarding this whole mess – remain silent and “be thought a fool”.
You’re certainly entitled to your own opinion, but the fact is this guy was convicted and sentenced which is rare for offenders. There has to be really strong evidence to get a conviction which makes your comment rather ignorant.
David Hobbs, Your comment arouses a righteous anger in me. You typically protect the perpetrator and shame/blame the victim. Read the legal report. Read what he was convicted of. Read the judge’s comments.
She was an innocent 12 year old girl. He was 28. That is illegal. If she acted the way you claim when you observed this, it was a result of HIS previous years of devious grooming and sexual abuse.
Ignorant attitudes like yours are the reason child sexual abuse is allowed, unchecked, and runs rampant in this group and victims are retraumatized over and over and over again.
David. That is called grooming. How long had the grooming been? Who was the adult? Please learn the progress of grooming and recognize your responsibility to intervene . Seriously! We just witnessed this happening. The child was 5. The groomer was 22. The extended family ignored the progression.
When we exited, the groomer had taken the victim who was enjoying the attention – back behind the house completely removed from the presence of any people. WHY? !!
David, it is evident you are not wanting to understand.
My heart is breaking…..a five year old child. When will this horror end? My prayers are for healing for the multitude of wounded children.
Hi i did not see or know anything about this until the young lady lived with my nephew and than Erics brother so i do not know when or what age it started , I only wish i had spoken to Eric when i knew it was going on and also checked with the young lady to make sure she was ok. It was a little confusing as the young ladies Father and Mother who go to the meetings allowed her to live with a young man when she was only 15. But it has taught a lot of us a lesson that if something does not appear right see that help is given by trained people
Fact Check: As you know, I am the victim’s uncle. She was almost 17 when she moved in with your nephew, and legally entitled to leave home at that age.
sorry Chris you are wrong
We are the parents of the little girl who was groomed and abused by Eric Smith. Eric also groomed us.
Until now we have chosen to remain silent as our daughter’s victim impact statement and the judge’s comments in the news articles should have left no doubt of Eric’s guilt. Unfortunately, there will always be some who will disbelieve the court’s decision regardless of the evidence.
Eric was found guilty July 2017 and taken into custody the same day. Eric was released on parole 16th February 2021.
Parole was granted on the condition that Eric acknowledged that he had committed most if not all of the offences he had been found guilty of. Eric was to ensure that there was general acceptance by his wider support network – that he had committed the offences.
David Hobbs acknowledges family and friends witnessing the inappropriate fawning behaviour of our daughter involving Eric. It is timely that we should correct the misinformation and misunderstanding used to influence many of our friends in the fellowship to doubt the findings of the court regarding Eric’s guilt.
Fear responses are: fight, flight and fawn. The fawn response is when an individual tries to avoid or minimize danger by pleasing and appeasing the threat. Someone responding in this way would do whatever they can to keep the threat or abuser happy, despite their own needs and wants.
David stated that he should have spoken to Eric. We would have appreciated if he had spoken to us. We have known David from our youth.
As this happened in the 1990s, David has his time-lines confused. We lived through this – it has impacted our lives for many years.
The offending stopped when David’s nephew became aware of the CSA and confronted Eric.
Our daughter’s education was badly affected by the CSA. Formally a top student she dropped out of school when she was 15, and found employment washing dishes in a restaurant six days a week.
While living at home with us she began dating David’s nephew, saving her money to be able to furnish and pay rent on a flat. She moved into the flat with David’s 20-year-old nephew the week before her 17th birthday.
As she was too young to be able to have an electricity account, her 21-year-old sister opened an account for her. We had no knowledge of the CSA and had refused to open an account for her because we were uncomfortable with her leaving home.
We her parents and David’s nephew’s mother were devastated that these two young ones were moving in together. We had no knowledge of the CSA so were completely unaware of why she was leaving home, but now realise it was to get some protection and escape Eric who often visited the family home.
We phoned a legal agency regarding a young person leaving home. We were told that if our daughter was over 16 she could leave home if she was self-supporting. If she should get into debt, we would be responsible.
In 2001 our daughter and David’s nephew parted – they have remained friendly. David’s nephew was a witness for the prosecution.
After parting from David’s nephew, our daughter could not afford to pay the rent on her income, so she was looking for a flat mate. We could not understand why she would not come home to free board and lodging. She was very welcome in the family home. Her reason for not living at home was that Eric often visited.
Eric’s brother moved in with her initially as a flatmate. Her reasoning was that Eric wouldn’t touch her while she was living with his brother. Eric’s brother didn’t know of the CSA. She lived with Eric’s brother until 2005.
In 2010 our daughter told us of the CSA – it was only then we began to realise why she had left home to live with David’s nephew.
As her education had been disrupted by the CSA, she began a degree at the Nelson polytechnic.
Three years later she reported the CSA to the police. After giving statements to the police and going through the court processes her education has been disrupted again. She is unable to study as the stress and trauma involved has contributed to her having fibromyalgia. Most days she is broken and struggles to care for herself and her children.
Despite that, she has raised children who are well-mannered with good morals.
Paul’s letter to the Galatians:
For all the law is fulfilled in one word even this Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself
But if you bite and devour one another take heed that ye be not consumed one of another
We must unite together to expose all child abuse.
We admire the courage of survivors who disclose abuse at great cost to themselves and those close to them.
Difficult days and misunderstanding by many people follow disclosure, but they do it anyway – because it is the right thing to do.
Hi look i do not agree with what Eric did, I was making the point the media had her age at 12 but i think in the court they said it was 14. And again i do not agree with what went on. A number of us friends holidayed with them while this was all going on and we all were so sad seeing how the young lady always jumping all over Eric. My only wish was that i should have spoken to Eric about it and made sure the young lady was ok, But it was a little hard as she was living with Erics brother at the time.
You are digging your hole deeper Mr. Hobbs. You don’t “agree” with what he did? It was criminal, nasty, vile and wrong in every aspect. It’s not a debate whether someone agrees or disagrees with child sexual abuse. She was not a “young lady”, she was a child and the fact that she was “jumping all over Eric” is indicative of his grooming success.
Holy moly man, get informed, get some ethics.
Hi lets make this very clear i do not believe in any form of child abuse or any form of abuse. When i said she was jumping all over Eric she would have been in her late teens living with Erics brother and Eric was married. There is no excuse for what Eric did and i feel sorry for the girl, but to say to me Get some ethics i left the meetings after calling out a dirty old man who was abusing his grandchildren and he was only made to stand down from the meetings for a few weeks by his daughter who was a worker. I pushed for people to go to the police but no one would do anything and the effect that had on a number of the grand daughters is sickening, But again workers and family covered it over. If i had the time over again i would have given the dirty old man the biggest hiding he would ever had. So do not tell me to get some ethics i am sick and tired of cover ups from people and workers from the meetings, And i guess it is same from other groups. I also question the young lady father and mother in the case with Eric, Allowing her to live with a young man when she was 15, She was a young child at 15, And it is against the law in NZ.
It doesn’t matter if she was “all over” him. A child cannot legally give consent to any sexual activity. You don’t have to be a genius to know that any sex act with a minor is immoral and sinful. It’s a pretty weak statement to “not agree” with crimes that get someone 10 years. CSA is CSA and Mr. Smith is guilty of CSA. Quit trying to minimize his crimes.
Fact Check: Actually the offending began when this little girl was 11 years old. The police chose a number of representative offenses beginnning at age 12. It was a closed court so can you explain why you “think” the court said 14?
Also, you might like to explain why you think 14 would be a more acceptable age for a close relative who is nearing 30 to have sex with a child?
Anything you saw was immaterial to this case because the victim was an adult when you “holidayed with them”.
First it is not right at any age, I have said that before and will say it again, The poor girl should have never have been subjected to any abuse. As for the court i sat in there for a time. I only say it is important that everyone tell the truth as i can tell you a worker that got himself involved told the police 3 things that the police told me the young lady and her parents told the police those 3 things was not correct
David John Hobbs: You said you sat in the court for a time. I assume you had a good reason for that. Were you there in support of the prosecution or the defence?
The victim’s family would like to know about the three things you consider not correct.
The policeman did not say what the 3 things were, Best you ask the police
It is stated, ““You took every possible opportunity to satisfy yourself sexually with this girl. Smith was 28-years-old and the victim 12-years-old when the offending began”. David Hobbs, a ” professing” man, said, “the media had her age at 12 but i think in the court they said it was 14. And again i do not agree with what went on. A number of us (friends) holidayed with them while this was all going on”. This is insane and so very warped! The “professing” culture is to see nothing and say nothing. I found this out when my daughter was assaulted by a worker. The head worker told my wife and me, “do not show that around”, when we had evidence of what happened. The predator had even more hostility towards us. Kids are not raised to be picked off by predators, even professing predators!!! The worker predator of my daughter and the head workers, still hold their position, after both being locked up! “Professing” is something started by William Irvine and everyone professed through him, or one of Williams ministers. William never professed, since he was the beginning of “the way”. Professing is not Biblical, and it most certainly is not Christ like, or anything you should be proud of. I professed at 12. Today I do not; I am a Christian. Proudly a Christian!
Hi three of us who saw this happening told the family, But the family would not do anything, I left the meetings after calling out a dirty old man abusing his grand children but it was covered up no matter how hard i tried to get them to go to the police. I also professed at 12 and now enjoy a life of faith and see though the meetings
You could have and should have reported it yourself.
Fact Check: No one reported this behaviour to the family until the victim herself as an adult reported the abuse.
This statement is all that’s needed to know about CSA and why it persist in a culture not anchored in Christ Jesus, “The workers accept, but have not publicly backed, the Court verdict. Accordingly, a number of friends in the area don’t accept that he was guilty, despite the Court verdicts”. He (the professing) predator was a 28 years old man. The minor (groomed) victim was a 12 year old child. First hand accounts dispute anyone seen this as wrong, in the religion of professing people.
People ask repeatedly – why don’t victims report? Why didn’t you tell us?
The victim- and parent-blaming comments from David Hobbs should provide insight as to why victims may feel that reporting is not worth the additional trauma.
This victim was not believed prior to her police report, and even after a guilty verdict on 12 charges and a decade-long prison sentence, people are still casting doubt on the integrity of the victim and her supportive family.
So I ask the community. Why should victims report? Why should their families encourage them to report?
How do you expect other victims to speak up when they can be treated with disbelief and disdain even after a GUILTY VERDICT?
Although this victim is not in the church now, the abuse happened while she was a minor in the church, attending meetings with the offender.
Her still-professing family have been absolutely broken by the abuse – made worse by the attitude of many in the church (which is accurately reflected here by ex-member David Hobbs).
The church should have wrapped its arms around all parties involved. The victim, her family, and the offender’s family are all victims of this situation.
Thank-you to all who have posted victim-supportive comments. Your support of this victim is valued.
David hobbs,
If you would only invest this relentless energy into a defensible cause, you could bring about noticeable change to the betterment of society.
You have seen no need to step out of this echo chamber long enough to enquire for the purpose of establishing truth, choosing instead to actively engage in enabling and supporting the offender to control the narrative he has created.
You and your family’s behaviour, both during the time of the abuse and since disclosure shows you to be spiritually and morally bankrupt. Throughout the duration of the abuse, the offender was disclosing his actions to your brother.
What you have said both here and relentlessly in other online forums has been factually incorrect and much of it blatantly untrue.
After repeatedly requesting the offender get professional help and to stop grooming and abusing children, he continued to target children both within my family and within the fellowship.
I told my truth to the police and answered to a court of law to protect those children. A jury of 12 of our peers found him guilty beyond reasonable doubt of these crimes.
In your staunch defense of the offender you have shown yourself to be just as dangerous and predatory as he is. Your behaviour has been very effective at shutting down any consideration by other victims of coming forward. The statistics show that for every 4 women and every 6 men you know there is likely to be at least 1 who has been the victim of sexual abuse. I will let you figure out for yourself how many people in your circle have been directly affected by this. These people all now know you are not a safe place to disclose and you are a threat to them once they have. My only question to you is what is your motive for your actions?
The Young Lady in Question has made a valiant effort to expose serious danger in the church and thereby protect other children, at great personal cost. I greatly admire her achievements in such adversity. The church ought to be thanking her. She has more courage and moral fibre than many remaining in the church.
I am a victim myself of an offender in connected circles to those mentioned by David John Hobbs and the Young Lady in Question and I have no doubt there are others.
I have quietly watched this case unfold for the last decade plus. I have watched how the church (of which I was a member at the time) has responded.
I have watched in utter horror and devastation as people I care about deeply and admire greatly have revealed and borne the impact of Eric’s actions and the appalling response of their church community.
Everything you say about one victim and their family, you may as well be saying about me, and my family.
Every victim-blaming, parent-blaming and offender-excusing comment tells other victims like me that you care nothing for our welfare, and will not support us or our families if we reveal our abuse and assault.
We are not trying to hurt the offenders despite the fact that they deserve to carry our hurt and we do not – we want safety for others, and ourselves, and character reformation for offenders. Is that truly too much to ask? In a church? In families?
The only rational conclusion I have been able to come to is that this church, as a whole, does not care about the wellbeing of children, or families. Some individuals DO care (thank-you to those people – you are very appreciated). However, collectively the church has chosen the sex offenders over the victims time and time again, for decades.
We now see that worldwide, there is a widespread and horrific abuse crisis reaching into the upper levels of ministry.
Quite frankly, I’ve observed and experienced an appalling lack of empathy, compassion, and care. A great deal of apathy, silence, gaslighting, shaming, blaming, and ignorance. I still can’t comprehend it.
You ask us, the victims, to carry a heavy load of personal suffering, and then either a heavy load of long-term silence or major stress of reporting to help keep others safe from it, but do not lift your little finger to help carry our load. Instead, you pile on greater burdens.
This is not only about one offender, one victim, one family – this is a pattern that the church has enabled and encouraged over generations. You have grown these predators amongst you. Even knowing what I already knew, I am stunned at how many more offenders and victims there are amongst the families I have known in the church.
You have destroyed lives and faith. You have sacrificed us, the church’s children, to your gods of….what? Peace at any price? Sustainability of your comfortable social bubble? The twisted pleasure of sex offenders? Why?
Now, you have the opportunity – consciously, carefully, and with more information than you ever had before – to choose the values you wish to be known by. Is it child sacrifice? Or Christ-like love?
Unbelievable, but so true.
God will surely leave all who continue to ignore this catastrophe to themselves. Are they the ones who will hear “depart from me I never knew you.?
brilliant
So many people witnessed this and are guilty of not protecting the innocent.
Don’t blame the ministry, don’t blame the fellowships beliefs, don’t blame others. Some of you have blamed the fellowship and quit that. My dear friends, workers and associated people look at yourself and ask what is wrong with yourself that you personally did absolutely nothing for many many years. You should all bow your heads in personal shame. And once completed admit guilt yourself and take responsibility. You can still do something! Show the Christlike spirit. Be humbled and send a card with funds to this victim apologizing for not doing something. Yes from those in this fellowship to those outside including any worker that claims they are penniless come forward and put your money where your support is.
We all need to become responsible adults and realize that our walk our words and our actions need to show to all that Jesus lives within. HELP the victim.
I hope I can meet this victim someday and ask her if she ever got a card of apology.
Thank you for your support.
It’s understandable to be so outraged at reading such raw material. I appreciate you taking the time to do so as although hard, it is so very important.
We see the world through our own eyes. With a deep faith in Jesus and his teachings, one lives a very christ-like life believing those with the same faith also share the same values. This makes it hard to recognise grooming and abuse while it is happening if you are not yourself a predator.
I spent many years carrying the weight of shame to no benefit. The benefits will be far greater if those willing will instead hold their head high so they can see the path ahead. Acknowledging the lack of understanding required to recognise predatory behaviour allows the opportunity for learning. Research on this subject enables us to educate, support and protect others both within the fellowship and our communities.
I sincerely wish for this to be the outcome of sharing my experience.
The suggestion of monetary donations to this survivor is understandable and admirable. However, WINGS is concerned that mention of money is often used to denigrate and discredit survivors by claiming “they are doing it for the money”.
Victim-survivors of sexual assault, especially in childhood sexual assault, often do lack the financial resources they need to deal with the aftermath of abuse, due to education and work disruption, health impacts and counselling costs.
However, survivors usually want support, safety and justice rather than money, and tend to undervalue themselves and downplay their needs. They also worry that accepting money will provide more material for the offender and their enablers to twist to suit their narrative.