Man jailed for 14 years for sexual offences against multiple victims

A sex offender who abused multiple survivors in Staffordshire has been jailed for 14 years.

Michael Lee Price, 22, of Burton-on-Trent, appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court today (Friday 14 June) and was sentenced after he was found guilty of ten offences at an earlier hearing, including:

• Two counts of rape of a girl
• Three counts of sexual assault of a girl
• One count of sexual assault of a boy
• One count of causing a child to engage in sexual activity
• One count of causing a child to watch a sexual activity
• One count of possessing extreme pornographic images
• One count of making an incident photograph of a child

Price also pleaded guilty to criminal damage.

In July 2022, one of the survivors bravely came forward and told an adult what happened to her. She told them that Price had raped and sexually assaulted her.

After we started work to investigate Price for his crimes, more survivors came forward and gave their own accounts.

He was arrested, questioned in custody and charged with a number of sexual offences. He continued to deny his crimes until a jury at Stafford Crown Court found him guilty back in April this year.

Today, he was sentenced to 14 years behind bars with an extended license period of three years. He was also put on the Sex Offenders Register for life and given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Detective Constable Bethan Otter, who works in our child protection team, dealt with the investigation. She said: “I’m pleased that the jury were able to see all of the evidence we’ve worked hard to gather and the effect Price’s crimes had on the survivors, despite his persistent denial.

“Results like this are the reason why officers are so passionate about speaking to survivors and encouraging them to come forward. It takes tremendous courage and bravery to tell people about these types of crimes, but with the right support, we can take robust action against those responsible and deliver justice for those affected.

“I’d like to recognise the survivors in this case all for all their help in making sure a dangerous sex offender spends a long time behind bars.”

If you’re a survivor of sexual offences, get in touch with our specially-trained officers by calling 101 or messaging us using Live Chat on our website.

To report anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.