A 60-year-old Stoke-on-Trent man has been sentenced after being found guilty of assaulting a sex worker in the city.
Registered sex offender Henry Alexander, of Hanley, was found guilty following a trial at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.
He was sentenced to 51 weeks, suspended for two years on 25 February. He is also subject to a curfew, compensation, costs, and a restraining order.
The Court heard that at around 2am on Sunday 15 September 2019 Alexander’s victim was waiting in Sandbach Road, Cobridge.
A Ford Mondeo pulled up and Alexander, who was known to her, got out and went to the boot of the car. He took something from the boot and put it in his pocket.
As he walked over to her he took something from his pocket and struck her several times to the head. She fell to the floor and was unsure afterwards if she had lost consciousness or not, but was able to remember Alexander driving away.
Police received a call just after 2am from a woman who was clearly in distress and had difficulty speaking – possibly due to injury to her mouth.
She was taken to hospital by officers. She suffered swelling to her jaw, cuts inside her lip, mouth and to her nose, and bruising to her right eye.
Alexander admitted knowing the woman and being in the area but said he didn’t assault her.
Detective Constable Jennie Holland, of Staffordshire Police, said: “This was a violent and unprovoked assault that, thankfully, did not leave the victim with lasting injuries.
“It took courage for her to come forward and we hope it sends a clear message that we will not tolerate violence on the streets and will put offenders before the courts.”
Alexander was convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm on 5 February.
