May 2010 Man jailed for child offences A 61-YEAR-OLD MAN has been jailed for sexually assaulting a child. Michael Hitchens, of Bambury Street, Longton, admitted eight offences of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault of a child under 16 yrs old, which took place over a nine-year period. Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court yesterday heard Hitchens had no previous convictions and a report showed he had no mental health problems. Anis Ali, mitigating, said: “He has had the good sense, to plead guilty to these counts. “Not only has he lost his good name but everything he’s worked for throughout his life – his job, home and family.” Judge David Pugsley jailed Hitchens for three years and three months, and imposed a sexual offences prevention order saying: “I can’t ignore the fact these offences were over a long period of time.”