Latest Offenders Stoke-On-Trent

Description

A man who committed a string of child sex offences in the 70s and 80s has been convicted following a trial.

Andrew Davies, 58, of Penkhull, Stoke-on-Trent, went on trial at Stafford Crown Court this week after he was charged with the offences following our investigation.

The survivors bravely came forward in 2023 and told police about what had happened to them. Our specialist officers from our public protection unit worked tirelessly to gather all of the evidence and to support them as much as possible.

When Davies was brought in for questioning in July 2023, he answered no comment to all of the questions.

Following a trial that ended on Wednesday (9 July), Davies was convicted of 10 sexual offences. The jury found him guilty on one count of rape of a female under 16, four counts of sexual assault of a girl and one count of inciting a girl to commit an act of gross indecency. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of inciting a girl to commit an act of gross indecency and two counts of sexual assault of a girl.

He will be sentenced at Stafford Crown Court on 29 September.

Detective Constable Lily Rowley, from our rape and serious sexual offences unit, said:

“I’m pleased that we’ve been able to deliver this result for the survivors, who have shown immense bravery in coming forward and telling people about Davies’ heinous crimes.

“No matter how long ago or recent offences of this nature may have been, we want survivors to know that we are determined to support you and to act robustly against those responsible.”

Description

A 23-year-old sex offender, Tristan Shaughnessy, is due to be sentenced after admitting to sexually communicating with a child under 16.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard that Shaughnessy—who has 10 siblings—asked a schoolgirl for "sexual intercourse" in messages sent between August 1, 2022, and October 1, 2022.

The offense came to light one year after his 2021 sentencing for breaching sex offender notification requirements by sleeping in a house with three children.

Shaughnessy, of Canary Road, Adderley Green, pleaded guilty to the charge.

Elizabeth Power, mitigating, said:

“He accepts the communications sent from his phone to the complainant. He is now 23 years of age, but he was aged 20 at the time of the offending.”

He has been released on unconditional bail and will be sentenced at the same court on November 25.

Description

A man who raped and punched a woman in Stoke-on-Trent has been convicted in court.

Audrius Zukauskas, 55, of Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent, pleaded guilty at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Tuesday (16 September) to three counts of the rape of a woman and one count of assaulting a person thereby occasioning them actual bodily harm.

Zukauskas met the survivor at a bus stop on 16 August this year. He asked her if she wanted to come up to his apartment.

When she did, Zukauskas raped her and punched her in the face.

At 3.50am on 17 August, someone called 999 and reported that a woman was covered in blood and fighting with a man. That man was Zukauskas.

Officers arrived quickly and took Zukauskas away in handcuffs, while others stayed at the scene to speak to the survivor.

After admitting the offences in court, Zukauskas has now been remanded ahead of his sentencing date at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on 10 November.

PC Eve Loach, from our rape and serious sexual offences unit, said:

“Zukauskas forced himself on the survivor and subjected her to abhorrent abuse.

“We will always seek to secure the toughest possible punishment for perpetrators of sexual violence in Staffordshire, and I’m glad we’ve now been able to deliver this outcome for the survivor.”

Description

A man has been jailed after he raped a woman in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Marin Covaci, 37, of Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, picked up the survivor in Kidsgrove in December 2023. He told her he would drive her home.

When she got in, he drove to a layby, locked the car, and raped her.

After it happened, the survivor bravely told someone about the incident. We started investigating after receiving the report and arrested Covaci the next day.

He was charged with rape of a woman and causing a female to engage in sexual activity. He denied the offences in court.

Through the sheer bravery of the survivor and the evidence we’ve gathered during the investigation, the jury found Covaci guilty on both counts at an earlier hearing. He was jailed for six years at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Thursday (4 September), given an indefinite restraining order against the survivor and put on the Sex Offender’s register indefinitely.

Sergeant Lisa Bettany, from our rape and serious sexual offences unit, said:

“The offender in this case targeted this woman in a calculated attack.

“The survivor has shown tremendous courage in coming forward and supporting this investigation, which has ultimately led to a dangerous sex offender being locked up and punished for his crimes.”

Description

A pervert trucker was injured as he was 'accosted' by paedophile hunters at his North Staffordshire home.

Gary Mosedale hurt his back as he tried to stop the group from entering his property in Blythe Bridge.

But the 58-year-old was arrested following the confrontation. Now Mosedale has been jailed for four years.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard that in late May 2024 the HGV driver messaged a Facebook profile of a 'girl' who immediately identified herself as aged 13.

The conversation moved to WhatsApp and became sexual with Mosedale explaining what orgasms were. He instructed her to carry our sex acts on herself. He was in fact communicating with a paedophile hunter.

Prosecutor Jonathan Dickinson said:

"Mosedale said, 'It is too bad you are not 16'. He called her beautiful. He said, 'When you are 16 or 17 boys will be after one thing'.

"He asked if she had seen a c**k. He went on to explain what sex and orgasms were. He instructed her to play with her breasts. He told her she will enjoy it. He showed a video of a woman but deleted it. He encouraged her to try it, telling her she is doing it right."

A hunter group attended Mosedale's home address on May 31.

Mr Dickinson added:

"The initial interaction was caught on CCTV. He tried to block them from entering his house."

Mosedale, of Bridgwood Road, Blythe Bridge, pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child; attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity; and attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act. The court heard he has 17 previous convictions for 46 offences but no previous sexual offences.

Catherine O'Reilly, mitigating, said Mosedale had taken responsibility for his actions. He asked to be remanded in custody. Miss O'Reilly said: "He has nothing of a sexual nature on his record. He received an injury to his back as a result of the actions of the group.

"He has struggled in the custodial environment. He is now in a wheelchair. He has sought medical help. He is working, packing tea bags. He worked as an HGV driver prior to being remanded."

Judge Richard McConaghy said:

"In late May you engaged in sexualised conversation online with a profile you believed to be a 13-year-old girl. You moved on to provide specific instructions of how to masturbate and encouraged that profile to do so. You also sent videos of a sexual nature, showing the acts that you were describing. The conversation lasted over a few days.

"It turned out, of course, that the profile was not in fact a 13-year-old girl. But that does not change the fact that you believed it to be so.

"You have been convicted on 17 previous occasions for 46 offences, but the last of those was over 20 years ago. None of your previous convictions were of a sexual nature.

"I acknowledge what took place in terms of your remand into custody. It was at your own request, for your own protection. I have seen the video clip as to what took place at the front door of your address. I have expressed my disquiet at the way you were accosted at your front door."

Mosedale was made the subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and was placed on the sex offenders' register for life.

Description

Child rapist Andrew Sidaway has been handed an extended jail sentence of 25 years. The 59-year-old raped his young victim on numerous occasions.

But she came forward and contacted the police in 2021. Sidaway, of Maclagan Street, Stoke, denied all the allegations but was convicted of five charges of raping a child under 13 after a trial at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court in May. He was cleared of assaulting a child under 13 by penetration.

Prosecutor Jamie Scott said there was no evidence that Sidaway had abused other children. But he added the defendant exchanged messages with an undercover police officer which indicated a sexual interest in children.

The court heard Sidaway has previous convictions for downloading and viewing thousands of indecent images of children and breaching the notification requirements of the sex offenders' register.

Rashad Mohammed, mitigating, said Sidaway recognises he has 'lost the best of his last years'. He is now in prison which has been a shock for him. Mr Mohammed said: "He maintains his innocence and denies he has done any wrongdoing."

He said Sidaway's mum is aged 79 and he will not be able to provide assistance for her. Mr Mohammed asked Judge Sally Hancox to pass a determinate sentence so Sidaway has a release date to work towards.

But Judge Hancox sentenced Sidaway to a 25 year extended sentence which is made up of 21 years custody and an extended licence period of four years. Judge Hancox said: "The serious sexual offending you perpetrated on your victim has impacted her through childhood and into adulthood. What you did to her will always be part of her.

"You are now entirely alone. Worryingly the pre-sentence report contains continued denials of your sexual wrongdoing.

"I am satisfied you do provide a risk. A determinate sentence would not fully address the risk you possess. I find it necessary to pass an extended sentence to protect the public in the future."

Sidaway must serve two thirds of the custodial term (14 years) with the rest on licence. He was made the subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and placed on the sex offenders' register for life.

Description

A paedophile who groomed a 14-year-old girl via online apps Roblox and Snapchat has been jailed.

Ben Bryan, 34, of Ash Bank Road, Stoke-on-Trent, had been communicating with the child despite her telling him of her age.

He told her that he loved her and had arranged to meet her.

On October 20 last year, officers came across Bryan’s vehicle in the Clifton Drive North area of Blackpool.

The vehicle had a defective light and was showing as having no MOT.

When officers went to speak to the driver, Bryan, they had concerns for the girl in the passenger seat.

As investigations commenced, it was found that Bryan had been communicating with the victim for some time, he had indecently exposed himself to her and engaged in sexual activity in her presence.

He was arrested, and following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service charged with child grooming, child abduction, non-penetrative sexual activity, causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, engage in sexual activity in the presence of a child and engaging in sexual communication.

He pleaded guilty at Preston Crown Court and was sentenced to six years and six months in prison.

He has been ordered to sign the sex offenders register and has been given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and a restraining order. 

A Lancashire Constabulary spokesperson said: 

“Bryan knew how young his victim was yet continued to groom her for his own perverted sexual desires.

“His victim has shown an incredible level of strength and bravery throughout the investigation, and we can only commend her for that. We hope she can now begin to move forward with her life knowing that Bryan is behind bars.

“If you are reading this, and you recognise the signs of grooming, or a sexual offence that may be happening to you, please know that we will listen to your report, we will thoroughly investigate, and we will do all we can to get you justice.” 

Description

A baby-faced pervert has avoided jail after being caught with hundreds of child abuse images. 'Reclusive' John Jenkins became engrossed in a disturbing online world, sparking his twisted desires.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard the 24-year-old soon began viewing and downloading hundreds of images of children as his depravity ‘spiralled’.

The defendant, of Spoutfield Road, Cliffe Vale, went on to plead guilty to three charges of making indecent images of a child and possessing 386 prohibited image of a child in September last year. And in his sentencing remarks, the judge said Stoke-on-Trent and the rest of the UK is experiencing an 'epidemic of child porn'.

Prosecutor Anthony Longworth detailed how Jenkins had stored a variety of Category A, B and C images on his computer. Now the pervert has been handed a two-year suspended sentence.

Catherine O’Reilly, mitigating, reminded the court that ‘there were no suggestions he has made attempts to reach out to anyone under the age of 16’, adding: This is a young man who falls foul of some serious offences. But he is taking serious work to avoid further offending.

“As soon as he was arrested, he did seek help. He sought the guidance of counselling agencies recommended to him by the probation service and engaged in one-to-one sessions.

"He has no previous convictions. It’s clear he has shown genuine remorse and shame for his actions. He has also closed down his online accounts to reduce the risk of potential harm.”

Jenkins was handed a 34-week prison sentence - suspended for two years - along with 60 hours of unpaid labour. He was also handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, requiring him to keep police up to date with his personal information and any online accounts.

Judge Graeme Smith told Jenkins: “Tragically, this court has to deal with cases like this every day of the week. There is an epidemic of child porn in this city and across the country. While you haven’t created any of this material, your consumption of it creates a demand and perpetuates its production.

“As you descended further into this online world, you became more and more divorced from reality. You freely admit that you went down a rabbit hole.

“Fortunately, you didn’t have as many pictures of children as others who have stood before this court. Many were animated and generated images. Although these are still illegal, they thankfully don’t depict real children.”

Description

Police have welcomed the conviction of a sex offender who stripped naked and then touched a 'screaming' little girl in a Stoke-on-Trent street.

Daniel Clift was completely nude when he spotted the six-year-old child getting out of a car in Fenton on New Year's Eve.

As the youngster tried to get back in the vehicle, 36-year-old Clift touched her on her head and shoulder and grinned and laughed as he did it. Police arrived and found him still naked talking to people outside a pub.

He was arrested and later told probation he was under the influence of monkey dust at the time. Clift was jailed for three years at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Speaking after the case, PC Daniel Crank, from Stoke-on-Trent South local policing team, said: “We do not underestimate the affect that Clift’s offending had on the victim and I am pleased he has been convicted of his crimes. We are committed to keeping communities safe in Stoke-on-Trent and wider Staffordshire.”

Prosecutor Antony Longworth said the incident happened at 9.40pm on December 31 as a mum was taking her child to a shop. The girl got out of the car as the mum was getting her purse from the passenger seat footwell.

Mr Longworth said: "She saw the defendant naked walking on the street. She shouted to her daughter to get back in the car. The child was standing by the front window of the car.

"She was making her way into the car and had one hand on the door handle when the defendant placed his right hand on the child's head and moved his hand down the side of her shoulder. He was seen to be grinning, smiling and laughing as he did it.

"It was a deliberate act. The mum called 999. The child was upset and screaming, 'When can we go home? Why did he touch me? Is it safe for me to get out of the car?'.

"Police went to the scene. They found the defendant naked. He was arrested. He was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. His eyes were very wide and his pupils dilated."

Clift,who has 69 previous convictions for 135 offences - pleaded guilty to exposure, breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and common assault. The court heard the defendant, of no fixed address, has numerous previous convictions for exposure.

Adam Watkins, mitigating, said Clift lost his parents when he was aged five and six and he grew up in the care system. He has significant mental health issues and has been diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic.

Judge Richard McConaghy said: "This is the 70th time you have found yourself in front of a criminal court. This is the fourth time that you have been convicted of an offence of exposure.

"I take the view that this is a very serious breach of the SHPO. Not only did you have contact with a child. You did so by approaching the child while you were naked and you committed a criminal offence of assaulting her."

The judge placed Clift on the sex offenders' register for 10 years and made him the subject of a new SHPO for the same period.

Description

A registered sex offender has been jailed for breaching an order after he was found in possession of extreme pornography.

Michael Sutherland, aged 31, of no-fixed address, was handed a two-year prison sentence at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Tuesday (24 June) after admitting breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) three times between December 2020 and January 2022.

The order prohibited Sutherland from deleting his internet usage and using any software which does not record internet history.

There were  a total of three images and two moving images of extreme pornography found on his device.  

Sutherland had previously been convicted in December 2017 for sexual grooming and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and was jailed for 20 months. As part of this conviction, he was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for ten years and made the subject of a SHPO for the same period.

Officers from our sex offender management unit seized his phone in December 2022 and it was sent for forensic examination. Following this, alongside the pornography, we spotted that Sutherland had deleted hundreds of messages from Facebook and instant messenger. He had also accessed Snapchat. Officers also found an encryption app on the device. 

Following Sutherland’s sentencing, PC Kate Callaghan of our sex offenders management unit, said: “Sutherland knew his activities were in clear breach of his order and acknowledged this in interview. 

“I am pleased he admitted his offending in court and was handed a custodial sentence. 

“Officers continue to work tirelessly to monitor and assess those convicted of sexual crimes to ensure we do all we can to prevent re-offending and protect the public from harm.”

Description

Convicted sex offender Stephen Proctor has dodged prison for breaking a court rule - four years after being jailed for a similar offence.

The 58-year-old was caged for 30 months in 2021 after setting up fake social media profiles on Facebook. It followed his conviction for sexual activity with a child after kissing a 15-year-old girl on the lips in 2021.

Now Proctor - who has eight convictions for 34 offences - has been sentenced yet again.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard how Proctor, of Leek Road, Stoke, failed to tell police that he had obtained a new passport ahead of a trip to Turkey.

Prosecutor Gurdit Singh said: “The defendant notified police he was planning to go to Turkey. He planned to use a passport which he had not notified police he had received and was arrested. In an interview later that day, he told police he wasn’t aware he needed to.”

But Rashid Mohammed, mitigating, argued that Proctor’s failure to comply was a genuine oversight.

He said: “The real question of this case is whether we need to send Mr Proctor to prison. There wasn’t a total disregard to inform authorities of his actions - he had notified police of where he was going. But he had overlooked the need to tell police about his new passport. He is currently on referral for help with ongoing mental health issues, including a suspected personality disorder. He is trying to keep himself busy with volunteer work and is trying to secure employment at a takeaway which is dependent on the outcome of this case.”

Proctor was handed an 18-month community order. It includes 20 days of rehabilitation and 200 hours unpaid work. He must also pay £1,000 costs.

Judge Richard McConaghy said: “You failed to notify police of your new passport in September. You did tell them you were going abroad. I acknowledge that your old passport was set to expire in January 2025, and you feared the passport would no longer be valid for travel. I also understand that you assumed it would be fine as it was using the same passport number. But it was your responsibility to notify police. I consider this a serious breach as you have been convicted of failing to notify police on a previous occasion, resulting in your imprisonment in 2021.”

Description

A sex offender stripped naked and then touched a 'screaming' little girl in a Stoke-on-Trent street in a terrifying New Year's Eve incident.

Daniel Clift - who has 69 previous convictions for 135 offences - was completely nude when he spotted the six-year-old child getting out of a car in Fenton.

As the youngster tried to get back in the vehicle, 36-year-old Clift touched her on her head and shoulder and grinned and laughed as he did it. Police arrived and found him still naked talking to people outside a pub.

He was arrested and later told probation he was under the influence of monkey dust at the time. Now Clift has been jailed for three years at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Prosecutor Antony Longworth said the incident happened at 9.40pm on December 31 as a mum was taking her child to a shop. The girl got out of the car as the mum was getting her purse from the passenger seat footwell.

Mr Longworth said: "She saw the defendant naked walking on the street. She shouted to her daughter to get back in the car. The child was standing by the front window of the car.

"She was making her way into the car and had one hand on the door handle when the defendant placed his right hand on the child's head and moved his hand down the side of her shoulder. He was seen to be grinning, smiling and laughing as he did it.

"It was a deliberate act. The mum called 999. The child was upset and screaming, 'When can we go home? Why did he touch me? Is it safe for me to get out of the car?'.

"Police went to the scene. They found the defendant naked. He was arrested. He was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. His eyes were very wide and his pupils dilated."

In a victim statement the child's mum said the youngster was traumatised and too scared to get out of the car. She said: "She keeps asking me why a man was walking around naked and touching a child like he did to her.

"I cannot believe he has done it before. I do not feel safe taking her out or letting her play out with her friends."

Clift, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to exposure, breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and common assault. The court heard he has numerous previous convictions for exposure.

Adam Watkins, mitigating, said Clift lost his parents when he was aged five and six and he grew up in the care system. He has significant mental health issues and has been diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic. Mr Watkins said: "He has not helped himself by taking illegal substances up to and including monkey dust.

"He has been in custody for six months or so. He has been reflecting. He wants to work with the authorities and groups to get his condition and his behaviour regulated. The girl was harmed psychologically. It was fleeting.

"He cannot explain why he acted as he did. He cannot explain, let alone justify, but the evidence has roots in substance misuse and mental health difficulties. There was no pre-planning or forethought in this offence."

Judge Richard McConaghy said: "On May 5, 2022 you were made the subject of a SHPO. It restricted your contact with children. On the evening of December 31 you were walking naked on the street. You saw a girl who had just got out of a car. Because of your appearance she was getting back into the car. You touched her on her head and down on to her shoulder. You were grinning and laughing as you did it.

"When the police found you were standing still naked outside a pub talking to people. The girl was traumatised.

"This is the 70th time you have found yourself in front of a criminal court. This is the fourth time that you have been convicted of an offence of exposure.

"I take the view that this is a very serious breach of the SHPO. Not only did you have contact with a child. You did so by approaching the child while you were naked and you committed a criminal offence of assaulting her. Your offending is aggravated significantly by your previous convictions and by the fact you were intoxicated by monkey dust at the time."

Description

A man has been jailed for after he pleaded guilty to child sexual offences.

Akhtar Gul Rhamani, 52, of Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, was sentenced to three-years-and-two-months’ imprisonment at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Tuesday (10 June) after he pleaded guilty to sexual assault of a boy at an earlier hearing.

Rhamani was arrested in October 2023 after the crime was reported to us.

As part of his sentencing, he was also given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and put on the Sex Offenders Register.

Description

A man has avoided an immediate prison sentence after he tried to meet who he thought was a 13-year-old girl for sex.

Mitchell Taylor messaged several accounts of girls under the age of 16.

He began speaking to 'Ellie' who he planned to meet at Stoke Railway Station on May 28, 2021.

But Taylor, who was 22 at the time, found that he had been duped by a paedophile hunter group.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard how he told a 13-year-old he 'liked young girls,' StokeonTrentLive reports.

Taylor - who has 13 previous convictions for 27 offences - was later arrested while on bail for threatening a security guard with a six-inch kitchen knife at a housing support premises.

Prosecutor, Syed Ahmed, told the court: "Predator group STOP set up a fictitious social media profile posing as a 13-year-old girl called Ellie.

"Mr Taylor contacted the account on March 20, 2021, with a message saying ‘Hey’. The conversation quickly turned sexual. The decoy informed Mr Taylor she was 13. He replied saying he was 22.

"He asked her if she would like to be his girlfriend. She said she didn’t know as she might get into trouble.

"He asked to see ‘sexy pictures’ of her. She said she didn’t know what this meant and asked Mr Taylor what he would like her to do."

Taylor then described the pictures she could send and offered to share intimate images of himself with her.

Mr Ahmed continued: "The girl said she didn’t know as she didn’t think her mum would be happy with it. Mr Taylor told the decoy that her mum didn’t need to know.

"The defendant arranged to meet with the girl at Stoke-on-Trent Railway Station on May 28, so she could come back to his house. He was instead met by paedophile hunters.

"He denied having sent any messages to the decoy and told the hunters that ‘Kieran had been sending the messages’.”

Taylor was interrogated by detectives on May 28, 2021 and answered ‘no comment’ to all questions.

On December 17, he admitted he knew he was speaking to a child - but denied having any intention of sexual activity.

Taylor, of Greenhead Street, Burslem, pleaded guilty to a charge of attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming on May 28, 2021.

Matthew Ness, mitigating, said that while Taylor had an extensive criminal record, this was his first sexual offence. He said the crimes were a result of his 'vulnerable' mental state.

He said: “At the time of the offending he was in early 20s - but he had the sexual and mental maturity of a teenager.

"Mr Taylor’s psychiatric reports show he suffers from significant learning disabilities.

"It is no coincidence that his offending completely stopped in 2021, ever since he started working with the learning disability support services.”

Taylor was given a two-year suspended sentence, a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, 100 hours of unpaid labour, and ordered to pay £500 in court costs. He was also ordered to complete a sex offender rehabilitation course.

Description

A man has been jailed after he was convicted of nine child sexual offences.

John Davies, 45, from Stoke-on-Trent, was sentenced to 20-years behind bars at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court yesterday (Tuesday 27 May).

He pleaded guilty in May 2024 to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, distributing an indecent photograph of a child, three counts of making an indecent photograph of a child and three counts of breaching a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO). A jury later found him guilty of arranging / facilitating the commission of a child sex offence – rape / assault by penetration of a child under 13.

Our Public Protection Unit carried out an investigation after we received intelligence that Davies had breached a SHPO in April 2024.