MADELEY FOOTBALL COACH ROBERT LAW SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF TWO GIRLS IN STOKE-ON-TRENT

In December 2014, Robert Law, a man residing in Madeley, was sentenced to a decade behind bars after being convicted of multiple sexual offenses involving two teenage girls. The court proceedings revealed a disturbing pattern of abuse that spanned over fifteen years ago, with Law, who also worked as a football coach, targeting vulnerable young girls in the Stoke-on-Trent area.

According to the court, Law, aged 61 at the time, engaged in a series of heinous acts against a 16-year-old girl, whom he assaulted on three separate occasions. The abuse included kissing her, touching her private parts, and encouraging her to perform oral sex on him. These acts reportedly took place over a period of two to three months, during which Law exploited the girl’s youth and trust. The court heard that on one particular occasion, Law sexually abused the girl while his own daughter was present in the car, highlighting the disturbing nature of his misconduct.

Following the conclusion of the abuse against the first victim, Law shifted his focus to another girl. The second victim was a girl with whom Law shared a mutual attraction, and although she initially consented to kissing, she explicitly made it clear that she did not want to engage in intercourse. Despite her protests, Law persisted and raped her on three separate occasions. Evidence presented in court included Law’s diary, in which he recorded details of his sexual encounters with the teenager, further illustrating his premeditation and lack of remorse.

Law, of John Offley Road, Madeley, denied five charges of indecent assault and three charges of rape. However, after a trial that concluded on December 1, a jury found him guilty of all charges. His defense attorney, Paul Cliff, argued that Law, who had recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer, did not accept the jury’s verdict. The victims only came forward to authorities last year, prompted by a television program that brought their experiences to light. Their disclosures led to the investigation and subsequent conviction.

Judge Paul Glenn addressed Law directly during sentencing, emphasizing the gravity of his actions. He stated, “The second girl was a vulnerable child and you took advantage of that. She made it plain she did not want intercourse but you carried on regardless. You were in the habit of engaging in acts of intimacy in your car. On one occasion when she made it plain she did not want sex, you ignored her. You would not take no for an answer. I sentence you for ignoring her express wishes on three separate occasions.”

The judge further condemned Law’s behavior, noting that he exploited two separate victims for his own sexual gratification. He remarked, “These are two separate victims. You moved from one to the other for your own sexual gratification.”

As part of his sentence, Law will serve up to half of his ten-year term in prison, with the remainder on license. Additionally, he has been placed on the sex offenders’ register and will be barred from participating in activities involving children and vulnerable adults, reflecting the serious nature of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.