Latest Offenders Stafford

Description

A man from Cannock who breached a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) has been jailed for more than two years.

Neil Fillingham, 45, was jailed for two-years-and-eight-months at Stafford Crown Court on Thursday 30 April after he admitted 11 counts of breaching a SHPO and one count of failing to comply with notification requirements of the sex offenders register.

In January 2024, Fillingham was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, for causing/inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and engaging in sexual communication with a child. As part of this sentence, he was also served with a 10-year SHPO.

In January last year, we received a report that Fillingham was potentially speaking to children on Instagram and Kik.

After gathering the evidence, we arrested him at his home and seized his phone. Messages on the phone, which had previously been deleted, were recovered.

He was later arrested on another occasion after we found evidence of him using more electronic devices to communicate with people online. An iPhone and an iPad, which had been supplied by his employer, were seized. He did not notify officers that he had access to these devices, which breached the conditions of his SHPO.

Now, he’s serving time in prison.

Our dedicated management of violent and sexual offenders team in Staffordshire are working tirelessly every single day to ensure those who currently serving orders are abiding to their conditions closely.

Those who fail to follow the conditions set out, as evidenced in this case, will be met with robust action and brought before the courts.

Description

A man from Penkridge who sexually assaulted a woman inside a house has been jailed.

Mark Ball, 52, of Penkridge, admitted sexual assault on a female at an earlier hearing and was sentenced to four years at Stafford Crown Court on Monday (27 April).

In March this year, Ball carried out the assault on the survivor.

When it was reported to us, we arrested him straight away and brought him in for questioning. He denied the offence and told us that nothing happened.

Officers worked hard to support the survivor and to build all of the evidence needed to secure the charges against Ball.

When confronted with the evidence, and the bravery of the survivor, he admitted the offence in court.

Detective Constable Jason MacTaggart, from our rape and serious sexual offences unit (RASSO), said:

“The survivor in this case has shown immense courage in coming forward and supporting this investigation, despite Ball’s original attempts to deny anything happened.

“We are working tirelessly every single day in Staffordshire to act robustly against sex offenders and to support survivors as much as possible.”

Description

A man from Newcastle-under-Lyme has been found guilty of child sexual offences following a trial.

Joseph Riley, 44, of May Bank, was convicted of attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity, intentionally touching a child in a sexual manner without consent, three charges of making indecent images of children and two charges of distributing indecent images of a child at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Wednesday (22 April).

Detective Sergeant, Katie Shufflebotham, from child protection, said:

We welcome this result after what has been a lengthy investigation.

I would like to thank the victim and their family for their bravery in coming forward.

They have shown considerable strength in supporting the investigation over the last four-and-a-half years.

Riley has been remanded in custody ahead of his sentencing date at the same court on Wednesday 10 June.

Description

A 36-year-old man has been jailed for 19 years for a series of child sex offences.

Aaron John Starmer, of Burton, Staffordshire, pleaded guilty to the rape of a child, attempted rape of a child, three counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, sexual assault, sexual activity with a child and inciting sexual activity with a child.

He admitted the offences in October last year and was sentenced to 19 years in prison, with an additional six years on licence.

Starmer has also been placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely, given an indefinite Sexual Risk Prevention Order and a restraining order preventing him from contacting the victim.

The charges followed the victim bravely reporting what had happened to them.

DC Sophie Smart, of Staffordshire Police’s child protection team, praised the victim’s courage.

She said:

“I would like to comment on the outstanding bravery of the victim in this case and their immense courage to come forward.

“Staffordshire Police encourages anyone who has been a victim of sexual offences to come forward and report it so that robust action can be taken and justice can be served.”

A force spokesperson added:

“We started to investigate Starmer after the victim bravely told someone what happened. He was arrested the same day and was charged and remanded into custody the next day. Starmer had no previous convictions for sexual offences.”

Description

A paedophile who told a decoy posing as a 13-year-old girl that “age was just a number” has been jailed for breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Stephen Vincent, 60, was given a two-year suspended sentence in February 2024 for attempting to meet a girl under 16 following grooming, after contacting the fake Facebook profile on New Year’s Eve 2022. He was also made subject to a 10-year SHPO.

He had already breached the order once in 2024 by failing to register a smart device with police within three days. That breach was uncovered after he made nuisance calls to Cleveland Fire Brigade; officers visiting his home found he had denied owning a phone, yet had just booked a taxi.

Vincent, formerly of Grosvenor Gardens, appeared via videolink from prison at Teesside Crown Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to a second breach. 

A routine police visit on 10 February found a dating app open on his phone with messages sent under the unregistered alias “BigStephen60”. Officers also discovered evidence of several deleted dating apps, which he was banned from removing without permission from his offending manager. Deleted conversations could not be recovered.

Vincent, who has nine previous convictions for 21 offences, was sentenced to 12 months in prison by Judge Andrew Hatton.

Description

A man who sent explicit photos of himself to a child and arranged to meet her in Stafford has been jailed.

Paul Donaldson, 28, of Stafford, was arrested by officers at Stafford train station on 27 November last year when he arranged to meet what he believed to be a teenage girl there.

When we seized his phone, we found that he had been communicating with an online account of a teenage girl. Donaldson asked her for her age, which was 13, but he still persisted in sending an explicit photo of himself and arranging to meet her at the train station, where they would then go to a nearby hotel.

When he was brought into custody, Donaldson answered no comment to our questions. But, we still had all the evidence needed to charge him with a number of offences.

He pleaded guilty at an earlier court hearing to arranging the commission of a child sexual offence, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and sending a photograph of genitals to cause alarm, distress or humiliation. He was sentenced to two-years-and-six-months in prison at Stafford Crown Court yesterday (Tuesday 10 March).

He was also put on the Sex Offenders Register for life and given a 20-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Detective Constable Georgina Brotherhood, from our police online investigations team (POLIT), said:

“Donaldson was persistent in his pursuit of this person and has rightfully been brought to justice for his actions.

“We’re working extremely hard every single day in Staffordshire to build and action intelligence against those who pose a risk to children and vulnerable people in our communities, and this is another example of that.”

Description

A 30yearold man who persistently stalked a teenage girl before grabbing her in an alleyway in StokeonTrent has been jailed.

Sabjan Burkazi, of Tunstall, was sentenced to three-years-and-four-months at StokeonTrent Crown Court yesterday (Thursday 5 March) after he admitting engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, stalking causing serious alarm or distress and three counts of making an indecent images of children. He had initially denied the offences but changed his plea to guilty shortly before his trial was due to start.

The offences came to light following an incident in August last year, when Burkazi approached the girl as she walked through an alleyway in Tunstall. He grabbed her, but fled moments later when a member of the public intervened. We arrested him at his home shortly after.

Following a robust investigation by officers from our public protection unit (PPU), we found that Burkazi had repeatedly targeted the same girl over several months, approaching her in public and asking for her phone number and social media details, which she refused to give. 

A search of his mobile phone uncovered indecent images of children.

The strength of the evidence gathered by officers was cited as a key factor in Burkazi’s decision to enter guilty pleas in court.

As well as a custodial sentence, Burkazi was handed an indefinite restraining order, preventing any future contact with the victim. He was also served with a five year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and put on the Sex Offenders Register for the next 10 years.

Detective Inspector Adam Goodger, from our child protection team, said

"Burkazi caused significant distress through his behaviour.

“The victim’s courage, combined with the thorough work of our officers in gathering the evidence, has ensured that he was held accountable for his crimes.

“This case demonstrates our continued commitment in Staffordshire to supporting those affected by these offences and taking strong action against those responsible.”

Description

A teenage prisoner, Ethan Rowley, threw boiling water over a fellow inmate's groin in the shower block at HMP Nottingham, leaving the victim with blistered skin peeling from his genitals and legs.

Nottingham Crown Court heard that Rowley, then 19 and on remand for serious sexual offences, carried out the unprovoked attack on November 8, 2024. He later received a 21-year sentence at Derby Crown Court last summer and will now serve an extra nine months.

Judge Michael Auty KC said:

"You are currently serving a sentence of 21 years which for someone of your age is exceptional... The circumstances surrounding this offence are that whilst serving at HMP Nottingham in the shower block you threw scalding, if not boiling, water over the victim. It caused his skin to blister, some of the skin was left hanging off his legs and groin area and caused damage to his genitalia. It is not entirely clear what the overall effects were because, as often happens with prisoners, he did not comply with the prison or give a victim personal statement,"

Prosecutor Samantha Warner explained: The victim entered the shower area where Rowley was; the defendant left, returned with a blue mop bucket, and threw its contents at the victim's groin and legs, causing immediate excruciating pain and blistering. Other prisoners doused him in cold water, and he was treated at QMC for burns to his chest, thighs, right arm, and genitalia.

Rowley, now 20 and at HMP Swinfen Hall, admitted throwing a corrosive substance with intent to burn, maim, disfigure, disable, or cause grievous bodily harm. He has prior violent convictions and was sentenced last July for raping two women in Derbyshire.

Defence barrister Gregor Purcell stated:

"I have no doubt it would have been pretty unpleasant blistering and it is undoubtedly painful and deliberate harm caused by him. He is a young man who is already facing an extremely long period inside for someone of his age."

Description

Sex offender Michael Hampson, 35, failed to inform police about a Samsung Galaxy tablet. He initially lied, claiming an empty Samsung Galaxy box by his settee belonged to a former resident.

Officers found the tablet under the sofa and arrested him. It marked his 10th breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Hampson has now been jailed for 16 months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

The SHPO prohibits him from using internet-capable devices without notifying police within three days. Devices must retain internet history and be available for inspection. On October 17, police visited his home and spotted the box.

Prosecutor Josh Daley said: "He allowed them in. They spoke in the lounge. Police noted an empty box for a Samsung Galaxy tablet. He said it was not his and it belonged to a previous resident. Police suspected he may have a further device. They conducted a search. They asked him to stand up. He admitted he had a tablet under the sofa. Police located it and seized it. He had only obtained the tablet the day before. He is not in breach for failing to register it but in breach for failing to make it available for inspection."

The court heard Hampson was convicted of two charges of encouraging a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity. He has nine prior SHPO breach convictions.

Hampson, of Maryfield Walk, Penkhull, pleaded guilty to the breach.

Mitigating, Paul Cliff said: "He does exhibit some remorse for his offending. His words are, 'I need to stop telling lies'. It was foolish to push the tablet under the sofa. He initially denied he was in possession of that item. It was driven by panic. He was in possession of the tablet for less than 24 hours at the time."

Recorder Robert Smith said: "You are a loner. You are quite isolated. The way you deal with that situation is to constantly lie to professionals who are charged with protecting the public. The purpose of the SHPO is to stop you having sexualised conversations with children. Your previous convictions seriously aggravate the position.

"There is some truth to what you said to the pre-sentence report writer, in that you lead an isolated and lonely life. But if you keep dealing with matters in the way you are I will keep sending you to prison for longer and longer. You have two choices, comply with the order or keep getting prison sentences. You need to stop flagrantly breaching the orders of this court. The court's patience with you has run out. Your offending is so serious and persistent, immediate imprisonment is inevitable and unavoidable."

Description

A man who abused multiple children has been jailed for six years.

Adam McLaughlan, 34, of Penkridge, was sentenced at Stafford Crown Court on Tuesday (6 January) after he was previously found guilty of 14 counts of sexual assault of a girl.

The abuse happened over a number of years in Staffordshire before the survivors bravely came forward and told us about what happened.

Officers from our public protection unit (PPU) worked tirelessly to support the survivors and to build the evidence needed to secure a significant number of charges against McLaughlan.

At an earlier court hearing, he denied all of the charges put to him. But, because of the strength of our investigation and the bravery of the survivors, the jury deemed him guilty on 14 counts.

As part of his sentencing, McLaughlan was also served with an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), placed on the Sex Offenders Register and served with a restraining order against the survivors.

Detective Constable Patrick Hipwell, from our public protection unit (PPU), said:

“I’m pleased that we’ve been able to deliver this outcome for the survivors in this case, who have each shown tremendous courage in coming forward and telling us about what happened.

“I want survivors to know that, no matter how recent or long ago offences may have taken place, we will always work relentlessly to delivery justice and to support you thoroughly throughout this process.”

Description

A man who raped and sexually assaulted a girl in Newcastle-under-Lyme has been jailed for more than 14 years.

Henry Saklatvala, 38, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, was sentenced to 14-years-and-three-months behind bars at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Thursday (8 January) after he admitted two counts of the rape of a girl, two counts of sexual assault on a girl and one count of attempting to rape a girl.

In July last year, we started investigating Saklatvala after the survivor came forward and told someone about the offences.

We worked hard to support her and to gather all of the evidence needed to secure a number of charges against Saklatvala.

Because of the survivor’s bravery, and the strength of our investigation, Saklatvala admitted the offences at an earlier hearing and is now behind bars for a long time.

As part of his sentencing, Saklatvala was served with an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and given an indefinite restraining order against the survivor.

Detective Constable Mylene Bepole, from our child protection team, said: “I’m pleased that we’ve been able to deliver this outcome for the survivor in this case, who has shown immeasurable bravery in coming forward.

“No matter how recent or long ago offences may have been, we want to deliver these types of outcomes for survivors across Staffordshire. That starts with coming forward and speaking to specialist officers in confidence.”

Description

A man who raped and sexually assaulted a woman in Cannock has been jailed for 15 years.

Anthony Lomas, 59, of West Chadsmoor, was found guilty of two counts of rape of a woman and four counts of sexual assault of a woman and was sentenced at Derbyshire Crown Court on Monday (5 January).

In 2021, the survivor bravely came forward and told us about the abuse, resulting in Lomas’ arrest.

Officers from our rape and serious sexual offences unit (RASSO) worked tirelessly to support the survivor throughout the investigation and to build all of the evidence against Lomas.

Now, he’s been sentenced to more than a decade behind bars, has been put on the Sex Offenders Register for life and has been served with a restraining order, stopping him from contacting the survivor.

Detective Constable Jason Mactaggart, from RASSO, said:

“Lomas inflicted a campaign of abuse on the survivor in this case and has been rightfully punished for his crimes.

“We’re determined to support survivors as much as possible throughout the criminal justice process and to deliver these types of outcomes for them.”

Description

A child sex offender in Staffordshire has been jailed for more than a decade.

Glynn Wills, 58, of Leek, was sentenced to 13-and-a-half-years in prison at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Friday (31 October) after he was found guilty of seven counts of indecent assault on a boy at an earlier hearing. He also admitted attempted sexual communication with a child.

In January 2022, one of the survivors recognised Wills after seeing a live stream on social media after Wills had been challenged over sending messages of a sexual nature to a decoy account which was purporting to be a 14-year-old boy.

A further survivor later came forward and told us that they had been sexually assaulted by Wills more than 20 years ago.

We launched an investigation into him and brought Wills in for questioning. He answered no comment to all of them.

By working tirelessly to support the survivors and to capture all of the available evidence, we secured the charges against Wills and brought him before the courts.

Because of the strength of this evidence, and the bravery of both survivors, the jury found Wills guilty on all of the charges that he originally denied in court.

As part of his sentencing, he was served with a restraining order against both of the survivors, put on the Sex Offender’s Register for life and made subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

After his 13-and-a-half-years in prison, Wills will serve an additional three years on extended licence.

DC Simon Beardmore said:

“I’m pleased that we’ve been able to provide some closure for both survivors in this case, who have equally shown immense courage in coming forward and supporting our investigation into Wills.

“I hope this shows other survivors that we are determined to take robust action against sex offenders in Staffordshire, no matter how recent the offences may have been.”

Description

A man has been jailed for the rape of a child, who he met on Snapchat, after being found guilty by a jury following a trial.

Joshua Emery, aged 25, of Cannock, was handed a seven-year jail term on Monday (29 September) at Stafford Crown Court, after being convicted of raping a girl aged 13 to 15 in August 2022.

Emery was found guilty of the offence in court at the end of June 2025.

Along with his prison sentence, Emery has also been placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and has been ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £228 upon his release.

The court heard how Emery, who was 22 at the time, raped the girl - who he stated he believed was 16 or older - and who he had contacted through Snapchat, near Essington Pools in August 2022.

Specialist officers carried out inquiries immediately and traced Emery through a taxi booking he made to the location. He was arrested in the following days and his devices and clothing were seized.

Emery denied the offence, but the victim gave compelling evidence and a jury found him guilty.

Following the sentencing on Monday, Detective Constable Hayley Cave, of our child protection and exploitation unit, who was the officer in the case, said:

“This was a harrowing case of an extremely serious sexual offence involving a child.

“I’d like to praise the victim, whose courage in coming forward and supporting the investigation has been instrumental in securing this conviction.

“Her strength and resilience are commendable.”

Description

A sex offender has been further sentenced after another survivor came forward when he recognised him on an online article. 

Allan Richards, 63, of no fixed address, is currently serving a 22-year jail term after he was previously convicted of 40 offences at Birmingham Crown Court in 2016.

When the survivor saw the case in the media, he recognised Richards as the man who sexually abused him when he was younger. He reported this to us in 2022, prompting a further investigation into Richards’ offending.

The abuse happened in Rugeley in the 90s. Richards was a serving police officer with West Midlands Police at the time.

After being interviewed in relation to the offences, we secured the evidence needed to charge Richards with two counts of indecent assault on a boy and one count of inciting a boy to commit an act of gross indecency.

Richards denied the offences but was found guilty by a jury at an earlier trial at Stafford Crown Court in August this year. He was sentenced to three years imprisonment at Stafford Crown Court on Friday 5 September. His sentence will run consecutive to the sentence he is already serving.

Detective Sergeant Gemma Szalapski, from our rape and serious sexual offences unit, said:

“Richards, despite already serving a lengthy sentence for an array of historic crimes, has been rightfully brought to justice for the abuse he has subjected yet another victim to.

“I want this to serve as an example to any survivors of sexual offences that we are absolutely determined to act against those responsible and to support you as much as possible. It doesn’t matter how recent or long ago it might have happened, what matters is that we’re able to speak to you and investigate reports as robustly as possible.”