ASHLEY ATTWOOD FROM ECCLESHALL JAILED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT IN STOKE-ON-TRENT

In April 2021, Ashley Attwood, a solicitor from Eccleshall, was sentenced to prison after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman while she was asleep. The incident took place in August 2018, and the case was brought to light after police investigations revealed disturbing evidence.

Attwood, aged 51 at the time, had engaged in a sexual assault against the woman without her consent. During the assault, he took photographs of her using his mobile phone, capturing the distressing moments. Although he deleted 11 images from his device, law enforcement officials managed to recover thumbnail versions of these photographs during their investigation. The images served as crucial evidence in establishing his guilt.

Following his arrest on the day of the incident, police examined his phone and uncovered the images he had taken of his victim. The victim, in her statement, expressed ongoing emotional distress, revealing that she has been upset daily and continues to struggle with sleep issues as a result of the trauma she endured.

Prosecutor Ben Lawrence detailed the events, stating that Attwood had assaulted the woman in her sleep, and although she initially flinched when she woke up, she fell back into sleep. Despite her attempt to resist, Attwood repeated the assault and also placed his hand inside her bra, further violating her personal boundaries.

Attwood, who is no longer practicing as a solicitor after being struck off, pleaded guilty to the charge of assault by penetration. His sentencing took place at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, where Judge Paul Glenn emphasized the humiliating nature of the crime, especially considering the photographs he had taken. The judge remarked that the victim's experience must have been deeply humiliating and traumatic.

As part of his sentence, Attwood was sentenced to five years in prison. Additionally, he will be registered on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely and is barred from engaging in activities involving children and vulnerable adults, reflecting the serious nature of his misconduct.