THOMAS MAYERS FROM STOKE-ON-TRENT JAILED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN STAFFORD

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Stoke-on-Trent, Thomas Mayers, aged 20, has been sentenced to more than six years in prison for a series of heinous sexual offences involving underage girls. The offences came to light after Mayers used the popular social media platform Facebook to target and groom young girls, ultimately luring them to his residence for sexual encounters.

According to court proceedings, Mayers persistently harassed a 12-year-old girl on Facebook, repeatedly requesting explicit photographs and pressuring her to visit his home. Despite her initial reluctance, the girl eventually sent him some images and agreed to meet him after Mayers refused to cease his persistent messaging. The court heard that Mayers’s actions were not isolated; he also convinced a 13-year-old girl to meet him in a barn and at his residence for sexual activity.

It was revealed that Mayers, who was 19 at the time of these offences last year, had previously been cautioned by police for having sex with a 15-year-old girl. Despite this prior warning, he continued to prey on vulnerable schoolgirls. Mayers pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including one count of statutory child rape, two counts of sexual activity with a child, and three additional sexual offences involving the two girls. These charges were formally accepted in Stafford Crown Court.

Judge Amjad Nawaz sentenced Mayers to six years and nine months behind bars. In his remarks, the judge emphasized the gravity of Mayers’s misconduct, stating, “You knew how old these girls were. They could not have given the impression they were significantly older. You had effectively pestered them to send photos, gaining their confidence. When the 12-year-old told you she was too young and you told her she would be fine, it’s singularly unattractive. The caution ought to have been a warning to you, but it failed to have the desired effect.”

Further details from the court revealed that Mayers forced the 12-year-old girl into sexual activity despite her protests and explicit declaration of her age. Prosecutor Stephen Bailey recounted, “She told him she was too young, but the defendant just said ‘you’ll be fine’. The girl did not know what to do, so she agreed, and they had sex on his bed.”

In addition to the abuse of the 12-year-old, Mayers also engaged with another 13-year-old girl whom he met in a local park. Although she initially refused to send him photos, she later engaged in sexual activity with him at his home and in a barn. When questioned by police after his arrest, Mayers claimed he believed the girls were older than they appeared.

Representing Mayers, solicitor Michael Grey, argued that his client’s failure to heed the police caution was influenced by concerns about his living situation. Grey explained, “Why did he not heed the caution? His instruction was he was more concerned with his parents. He had to leave his mother’s house and was living with his grandparents. As part of the caution, he was sat down with a police officer and explained what his behaviour meant to the girl.”

As part of his sentence, Mayers was also subjected to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which prohibits him from residing with girls under 16 and from having unsupervised contact with girls under 18, aiming to prevent further harm and protect potential victims in the future.