BEN COTTERILL'S SHOCKING ATTACK IN STOKE-ON-TRENT: SEXUAL ASSAULT AND THEFTS LEAVE COMMUNITY IN FEAR

A disturbing incident involving a man named Ben Cotterill has sent shockwaves through the community of Stoke-on-Trent. The events unfolded late in the evening, around 10:15 pm, as a woman was walking home alone from Stoke-on-Trent railway station. She encountered Cotterill, who was standing in the middle of the road, and his behavior quickly escalated into a frightening assault.

According to court reports, Cotterill suddenly shouted at the woman before rushing towards her with aggressive intent. The situation rapidly turned threatening when he wrapped his arm around her neck, pressing her against his body from behind. The woman, visibly terrified, repeatedly pleaded with him to let go, crying out, 'Get off me.' Despite her protests, Cotterill made a chilling statement, saying, 'I could f****** rape you right now,' which added a sinister tone to the attack.

The assault continued for approximately a minute, during which Cotterill held onto her tightly, rubbing his crotch against her backside in a highly inappropriate and intimidating manner. He then forcefully pushed her into a nearby fence, further assaulting her sense of safety and security. The woman, overwhelmed with fear, kept demanding that he release her, but her pleas seemed to fall on deaf ears.

Fortunately, a delivery driver who witnessed the distressing scene intervened, pushing Cotterill away and coming to the woman's aid. The driver confronted Cotterill, asking, 'What are you doing? Do not be touching girls,' to which Cotterill responded with a brazen declaration, 'I can touch who I want.'

Following the incident, Cotterill was detained by authorities. During his arrest, he initially denied assault but later pleaded guilty to sexual assault charges. It was also revealed that he committed additional crimes on October 15, 2024, including thefts from local stores—specifically, stealing a hot tub from B&Q in Meir Park and a bottle of vodka from Bargain Booze in Trentham.

The victim, in a heartfelt statement, described the traumatic impact of the assault. She expressed that the ordeal had left her feeling shocked, deeply shaken, and in need of ongoing counseling. Her mental health has suffered significantly, and she fears she may never recover fully from the experience.

Further court disclosures revealed that Cotterill has a long history of criminal behavior, with 66 convictions and a total of 149 offenses. He has previously been convicted of four sexual offenses. It was also noted that he suffers from mental health issues, including psychosis, depression, and anxiety. His defense argued that the incident was isolated and largely influenced by substance abuse at the time. His lawyer stated that Cotterill had taken drugs during the incident, which impaired his judgment and behavior, and emphasized his remorse and recent efforts to abstain from drug use.

Despite these mitigating factors, the court sentenced Cotterill to 32 months in prison. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for the next ten years, reflecting the severity of his actions and the community's need for protection from further offenses.