Newcastle man found guilty of historical sexual offences

A 68-year-old man has been found guilty by a jury of child sexual offences. 

John Charles Saunders, from Newcastle-under-Lyme, was convicted at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on October 29 of two counts of indecent assault on a girl under 14 years and one count of sexual assault on a girl under 13.

His offences occurred between March 1994 and September 2018.

Saunders will be sentenced in December 2021.

DC Gary Cliffe, of Staffordshire Police, said: “Saunders’s attacks against two vulnerable children were targeted and appalling.

"I want to pay tribute to the survivors for the tremendous bravery it took for them to come forward and inform the police of the abuse they suffered.

"We hope Saunders’s conviction acts as a reminder that we will continue to do whatever it takes to bring the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to justice – no matter how long ago these attacks took place."

Anyone who has suffered sexual abuse, or suspects others may be subject to sexual abuse, is urged to contact Staffordshire Police on 101.

Alternatively, the independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or through www.crimestoppers-uk.org.