Shaun Smith, of Bernwood Road, Headington, was jailed for 18 years at Oxford Crown Court on April 29.

The 47-year-old had pleaded not guilty to one count of rape, one count of sexual assault and two counts of assault by penetration.

The rape was alleged to have been committed in the year 2000 and the sexual assault in 2012.

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Shaun Smith (Image: TVP)

The two charges of assault by penetration were alleged to have been committed in March 2017 and August 2022.

On Wednesday, April 1, a jury found Smith guilty of the first, second and fourth counts by a majority verdict.

He was found guilty of the third count by a unanimous verdict.

The court heard Smith was assessed as posing a high risk to women over the age of 17.

It was also heard he continues to deny the offences he was committed of.

Judge Ian Pringle KC handed Smith an extended sentence of 18 years and a restraining order against all four women until further order.

The women, who all attended the sentencing, broke down in tears as the length of the sentence was given.

After the hearing, Investigating officer detective sergeant Chris Bennett, of Oxfordshire’s Criminal Investigation Department, said: “I would like to commend the incredible bravery of the women involved in this case.

“Without their determination, courage and support we may never have known about Smith’s offending and it would have been much harder to bring him to justice. This result today is a testament to them and while it can never undo what has happened, I hope it helps them gain some kind of closure and allow them to move forward with their lives.

“Smith has proven himself to be a serial sex offender who preys on women while they are asleep and at their most vulnerable, unable to consent.

“Cases like this are the reason I became an officer and being able to bring dangerous predators like Smith to justice makes me proud to be a detective.

“I would like to extend my sincere thanks to everyone here at Thames Valley Police who worked incredibly hard to help put Smith behind bars where he cannot harm anyone else.

“I hope that this case shows how seriously we take all reports of rape and sexual offences, no matter when they occurred.

“My plea today to anyone who has been affected by rape or any sexual offence is to please tell us. You can contact us via our website or call 101 where you can speak to specialist officers in confidence. There are also a range of other services available that can offer you support.”

The unit was spotted just after 2pm flying over Osney Mead across the city on Wednesday.

The helicopter flew from Botley, where it had attended a call out in the area shortly before 1pm.

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It then flew over Oxford, Headington and Stanton St John, before turning around at Horton-cum-Studley, after which it travelled to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Headington.

It landed there shortly before 2.30pm.

A Thames Valley Air Ambulance spokesperson said: “We can confirm that our helicopter was dispatched to provide advanced critical care at an incident in Oxford today.”

Further details have not been provided on the incident.

Of the top 10 schools receiving admission, six schools hail from the capital.

In a wider list of 80 schools, 33 of those were London-based.

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Notably, Westminster School topped the overall list, with 179 applications to Oxford or Cambridge and 96 offers received.

The independent school has a notable alumni list, including Sir Isaac Newton, former Prime Minister and former Witney MP Lord David Cameron, as well as renowned actress Helena Bonham Carter.

Lord David Cameron (Image: Ben Birchall/PA Wire)

The highest state school on the list is Hills Road Sixth Form College, a co-educational state sixth form college in Cambridge.

Out of its 245 student applicants, 62 gained Oxbridge offers in 2025.

Queen Elizabeth’s School in Barnet also stood out among state schools, with 127 students applying to Oxbridge, and 62 of those receiving admissions.

Analysis of the top 80 schools revealed 25 were state schools of state sixth-form, one was a further educational college, 30 were private schools and 24 were grammar schools.

This analysis comes amid Oxford University’s announcement to scrap its own admissions tests, signalling a shift in the undergraduate application process.

These entry exams have long been seen as a barrier to those without the support of a private school or pushy family who can help with preparation.

In January Oxford University was named the best university in Europe in the QS world rankings for 2026.