REECE WIGGLESWORTH FROM NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT AND ROBBERY IN STAFFORDSHIRE AND EAST MIDLANDS

In a disturbing series of criminal acts, Reece Wigglesworth, a 16-year-old resident of Newcastle-under-Lyme, has been convicted and sentenced for a range of violent offenses that have shocked the local communities and garnered significant media attention.

Back in February 2022, Wigglesworth committed a heinous sexual assault inside the home of a 79-year-old woman. The incident unfolded when the elderly victim, believing the intruder to be her son, unlocked a door chain to her residence. Wigglesworth then forcefully entered her home in Newcastle-under-Lyme, demanding money. When she responded that she had none, he was observed playing with his private parts, indicating his intent.

He then pushed her against a kitchen worktop and subjected her to a violent sexual assault. The terrified woman screamed for help, but Wigglesworth responded with violence, hitting her across the head and shouting, “shut the f*** up.” The assault left the elderly victim traumatized, suffering from flashbacks and feeling unsafe within her own home.

Wigglesworth’s arrest came three days later, following an appeal from local media outlets. Forensic evidence played a crucial role in his identification, with DNA recovered from the victim’s clothing and a door handle at a nearby property linking him to the crime scene.

This horrifying incident was not an isolated event. Seven months prior, Wigglesworth, along with an accomplice, was involved in a carjacking outside a residence in Nottingham, East Midlands. During that incident, they threatened a disabled woman with a knife, stole her car, and took her purse, from which Wigglesworth took 50 pence. The victim was left feeling petrified by the threat of violence, and the stolen vehicle was later recovered by police, leading to the arrest of the suspects.

Following his release under investigation, Wigglesworth’s criminal behavior escalated. On October 9, at approximately 7:30 pm, he forced his way into the same elderly woman’s home in Newcastle-under-Lyme. After demanding money, he pushed her against a kitchen worktop and assaulted her again, causing her ongoing distress and fear of returning to her own residence.

Throughout the investigation, forensic evidence confirmed Wigglesworth’s involvement, with DNA found on the victim’s clothing and at a neighboring property’s door handle. The defendant, who has no fixed address, pleaded guilty to multiple charges including robbery, possession of a knife in public, burglary, and sexual assault.

In sentencing, Judge Glenn described Wigglesworth’s actions as “appalling” and emphasized the danger he poses to the community. The judge noted that Wigglesworth’s offending behavior was escalating both in severity and frequency, with particular concern over his history of digitally penetrating vulnerable females. The defendant also carries knives and abuses alcohol and drugs, further indicating a lack of control.

As part of his sentence, Wigglesworth was ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely and was barred from engaging in activities involving children and vulnerable adults. Although typically offenders under 18 are granted anonymity, the court lifted reporting restrictions, citing the importance of transparency and justice in this case. The sentence reflects the serious nature of his crimes and the ongoing threat he poses to society.