A PROLIFIC 'sexual predator' has been jailed again after he raped one sleeping woman and sexually assaulted another - filming the ordeal.

William Smith, 33, formerly of Redearth Road, Darwen, now of no fixed address, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 12 years, at Preston Crown Court on Friday.

He pleaded guilty to two offences of sexual assault by penetration and one offence of rape.

Smith is currently serving a 40-month jail sentence, which he was handed in January last year after pleading guilty to 18 counts of voyeurism, two of attempted voyeurism and two of making indecent images of children, after he secretly filmed women, girls and boys undressing in public changing rooms at the Trafford Centre, using disabled toilets or lying naked on sunbeds.

On Friday, the court heard that between 2010 and 2016 Smith orally raped a woman whilst she slept and filmed the abuse.

The other victim was also sexually assaulted whilst she slept, and again, he filmed the abuse.

Neither victim was aware at the time that they had been sexually assaulted.

In an emotional victim impact statement one victim described suffering "severe psychological harm” from the abuse, to the point that she had attempted to take her own life.

Brett Gerrity for the Crown Prosecution Service said: "Smith initially denied his criminality.

"We worked closely with the police to build a strong case and with the help of these brave women, we were able to produce the evidence that gave him no choice but to admit to the depraved offences he stands convicted of.

"This was a particularly disturbing case and has had a devastating impact on the two victims, who both had to learn about the abuse they suffered in their sleep, by watching the recordings.

"Both victims are still dealing with the impact of Smith's offences.

"I truly hope that they can take some solace from the significant sentence passed on Smith today."

At Smith's sentencing in January 2020, the court was told how he covertly filmed his victims undressing at Darwen Leisure Centre, using the disabled toilets changing rooms at the Trafford Centre, using sunbeds in the Bury area, and in wet rooms across Lancashire.

The majority of Smith’s offending happened once he had been released on licence from Forest Bank Prison after serving time for filming a teenager showering without her knowledge.

He used a specially-adapted iPhone covered in black tape to secretly film under changing room cubicles and also removed vents at sunbathing shops to make room for his camera.

At the hearing in 2020, the court heard how Smith was caught after filming a 15-year-old undressing in a cubicle at Darwen Leisure Centre.

He was traced from CCTV within the centre, which showed that Smith had been in the building between 5pm and 7.15pm, mainly in the changing village and had not been swimming.

Examination of his phone found 23 video clips, including one of the 15-year-old.

There were also seven videos of children in six separate clips, the youngest being six-years-old.

Smith was subsequently arrested and police seized a number of electronic devices from his home.

There was a total of 167 images, most videos lasting from a few seconds to a few minutes, including 64 videos in wet rooms in leisure facilities across the county, capturing his victims naked.

His victims in those offences, included a 13-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy.

At the time Judge Beverly Lunt stopped short of classing him as a dangerous offender but described Smith as a sexual predator.