Buster Smith

Buster Smith is the father of Damon Kinsella and the ex-husband of the late Maggie Kinsella. In 2018, Buster was arrested for sexually assaulting Oliver Morgan and Damon's best friend Brody Hudson. Buster was found guilty of his sexual assault on Ollie and received a six-year imprisonment sentence in January 2019.
== Biography ==
=== 2018: Arrival and Grooming ===
Retired professional footballer Buster arrived in the village in January 2018 for the funeral of his ex-wife Maggie Kinsella. His son Damon Kinsella initially rejected him as Buster had been absent for most of his life, but his girlfriend Holly Cunningham convinced him to give Buster a chance. However, Damon's best friend Brody Hudson was unhappy to see Buster - a feeling that Buster shared. Buster began a relationship with The Dog in the Pond landlady, and later moved in with her, her children, Buster and Damon. He then established his football academy in the village, ultimately developing a close relationship with Oliver Morgan, who was having problems at home.
Buster appointed Ollie team captain and began grooming him. He spoke highly of Ollie to other football coaches, before sneaking him a pint of peer and convincing him to drink it. After Ollie sustained a leg injury during practice outside Esther's Magic Bean, Buster examined his leg and inappropriately touched Ollie. Ollie's alcoholic father Luke Morgan was too intoxicated to understand what Ollie was telling him, so Ollie quit the team. However, Luke changed Ollie's mind and Buster manipulatively made Ollie work twice as hard to return to being captain. Buster's abuse continued on a trip to Barcelona, where he also sexually assaulted Imran Maalik.
Ollie worked with Buster to fundraise for a trip for ill Dee Dee Hutchinson to go on holiday to Disneyland Paris, with Buster giving Ollie a secret phone to talk to him on. Buster took intimate photos of Ollie and Luke accused Damon's half-brother Scott Drinkwell of taking them, viciously attacking him. As Scott protested his innocence, Brody told Ollie that Buster had sexually abused him, to which Ollie said the same had happened to him.
=== 2019-2021: Arrest and Aftermath ===
Brody and Ollie both reported the assaults to the police, and Buster was ultimately arrested. Initially charged with abusing Ollie, he was charged with abusing Brody when Damon lied that he overheard Maggie and Buster arguing about Brody on the day he last saw his father. At his plea hearing, Buster pleaded not guilty and footballer Arlo Watson attempted to buy Ollie's silence with promises of a substantial amount of money and a signing to a professional football team. Ollie refused and the case continued to court.
Buster's trial was held at Dee Valley Crown Court in January 2019 where four other men: Chris Neeson, David, Reuben and Jake also testified. After Damon was caught lying at the stand, the charge for Brody's abuse was dropped. However, Buster was still found guilty of Ollie's abuse and sentenced to six years in prison. In January 2020, Brody confided in his kidnapper Warren Fox about Buster, resulting in the pair bonding. In July 2020, Brody became hellbent on helping Warren and Felix Westwood get justice against abuse care home worker Cormac Ranger, and Warren pushed him to finish his unfinished business with Buster.
In September 2020, Brody visited Buster in prison with Damon, with Buster apologising to Brody to appease Damon. However, when Brody visited again with Ollie, he made clear that he had lied. In June 2021, Brody's fiancée Summer Ranger visited Buster in prison in an attempt to get him to come to her and Brody's wedding, but his temporary release was denied. Summer then arranged for Buster to call Brody.
==Appendices==
===Residences===
Address 	Duration
1 Stockton Lane	2018 to 6th September 2018
Longmere Prison	Since 6th September 2018
===Employment History===
Job 	Duration
Footballer 	Until prior to 2018
Football Coach	Prior to 2018 to 6th September 2018
==Background Information==
*Nathan Sussex's casting as Damon Kinsella's father Buster was announced a week before his debut in January 2018.
==Introduction Sequence==
*2018: Buster stands at the bar of The Dog in the Pond.
== Quotes ==
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== See Also ==
*List of appearances
*Kinsella family
Category:Hollyoaks characters
Category:2018 debuts
Category:2019 departures
Category:2020 returns
Category:2020 departures
Category:2021 returns
Category:2021 departures
Category:Kinsella family
Category:Footballers
Category:Residents of 1 Stockton Lane
Category:Convicts
Category:Hollyoaks Villains