A PEMBROKESHIRE man, who formerly worked as a child youth worker employed by Pembrokeshire County Council, appeared before Swansea Crown Court on Friday of last week charged with 16 sexual offences against children. It was his first court appearance since he was bailed by Haverfordwest Court a few weeks ago. 

The allegations include sexual touching, taking indecent photographs, and the possession of 1,129 indecent photographs of minors. Michael John Smith, known as ‘Mik’, aged 49, of Prendergast, Haverfordwest, is accused of touching the genitals and bottom of an eight-year-old boy, and encouraging a boy of eight to engage in sexual activity of a non-penetrative nature, including masturbation. He is expected to enter pleas at a hearing at the Crown Court on June 6. Meanwhile the Tanyard Youth Project, where Mik Smith was a director, is distancing itself from him. Kenwyn Corris Jones, of the Tanyard Youth Project, told The Herald in a statement: “Mik Smith was not a founder member of the Project when it was set up in 1999 [as previously reported]. He became an employee in 2001 and resigned in 2003 to take up other employment. He later became a member of the Trustee Board from 2004 until 2008 when he resigned due to other commitments. He added: “None of the current staff has ever worked with him, and no complaint relating to his employment or his time on the Trustee Board has ever been made. “Our child protection policies and practice and safeguarding training are robust and in accordance with the Pembrokeshire Safeguarding Children’s Board. “The Tanyard Youth Project is an independent organisation that works with many different partners and funders and is fully committed to providing a high quality service to young people in a safe and welcoming environment.” The Tanyard Youth Project added that they would make no further comment will be made by the Project whilst criminal proceedings are ongoing. Pembrokeshire County Council, who employed Smith until 2012, has written to concerned parents urging them to contact the police if they have concerns. It is understood that Smith had worked at, amongst other locations, the Pupil Referral Unit in Penally. In last week’s paper a production error led to the Council’s comment on our lead story being cut short. We are happy to correct this. The final paragraph of the lead regarding Mik Smith should have read: A Council spokesperson told us: “The individual formerly worked as a youth worker with County Council. He was dismissed almost three years ago. We are unable to reveal the reason for dismissal however we can say that it was unrelated to the charge/s he is facing in court.”