A PAEDOPHILE who was previously jailed for stabbing a Coronation Street star has been locked up again after sexually abusing a teenage girl.

Michael Smith groomed his victim over a number of months before arranging to pick her up from her home in Warrington in February last year.

The 49-year-old then drove the teen back to his flat in Hyde, Greater Manchester, where he sexually abused her.

She was located at around 5.30am the following day after she contacted police.

Smith was found guilty of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity after a trial at Liverpool Crown Court earlier this month and was jailed for eight years on Friday, March 4.

He was also handed a four-year extended licence period and told to sign the sex offenders’ register indefinitely after a judge described him as a ‘danger to the public’.

The defendant is now facing another lengthy period behind bars, having been locked up for seven years in 2002 after knifing actor John Savident in the throat.

Warrington Guardian: John Savident

John Savident

Smith, a former sex worker, attacked his victim – who is best known from playing butcher Fred Elliott in Corrie – in his own bedroom in December 2000 before demanding valuables and the keys to his classic sports car.

The blade missed the main artery in Mr Savident’s neck by less than an inch.

But he managed to lock his assailant out of his home before passing out after calling the emergency services.

Detective constable Stephen Martin, who led Cheshire Police’s investigation into the sexual abuse, said: “Smith knew the victim was underage and he knew that she was vulnerable.

“In spite of this, he purposefully chose to take advantage of her – grooming the girl over a number of months and convincing her that she was in love with him.

“After gaining her trust, he then collected her from her home in Warrington and took her to his flat Hyde where he sexually assaulted her.

“Thankfully, as a result of the evidence provided by the victim and the evidence gathered during our investigation, Smith is now facing a significant prison sentence and is no longer a danger to the general public.”