Judge imposes lengthy sentence after offences carried out in Stoke-on-Trent
A man from Stoke-on-Trent has been given a substantial custodial term after admitting a string of sexual and violent offences against two women, the city’s Crown Court has heard.
Jacob Leslie Simcock, 35, of Tunstall and also known as Jacob Murfin, was sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court to 14 years and 10 months in prison, with an additional three years and two months on extended licence, after pleading guilty to a catalogue of offences.
Prosecutors told the court that Simcock had committed multiple offences against two separate women last year. The charges to which he admitted include:
- two counts of rape
- two counts of intentional strangulation
- two counts of threatening to share a photograph or film of a person in an intimate state
- one count of engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour
- one count of stalking involving fear of violence
Police said the offences included acts of rape and strangulation in a house, and behaviour intended to intimidate and silence victims, including threats to distribute explicit recordings.
"What he subjected the survivors to was utterly deplorable, and I hope this sends a message to anyone else out there that we will take robust action against those responsible for these crimes," Det Con Adele Thompson said after the sentencing.
Following the custodial term, Simcock will be placed on the sex offenders register for life and is subject to an indefinite restraining order prohibiting contact with the two survivors. The combination of imprisonment, extended licence and register notification is designed to add layers of protection for the victims and the wider community on his eventual release.
| Measure | Details |
|---|---|
| Custodial sentence | 14 years 10 months |
| Extended licence | 3 years 2 months |
| Sex offenders register | Lifetime |
| Restraining order | Indefinite, protecting both survivors |
Impact on victims and broader safeguarding measures
Staffordshire Police said that officers had gathered the evidence needed to secure the conviction and that specialist support had been provided to the victims. The description of offences given by the force highlights a pattern of coercive behaviour, threats and physical violence that extended beyond individual incidents.
Senior investigators stressed that the sentence reflected the seriousness of the offences and underlined the force’s commitment to tackling sexual violence and stalking locally. The indefinite restraining order and lifetime placement on the sex offenders register are significant because they create long-term controls that can be monitored by authorities to help reduce future risk.
For communities in Stoke-on-Trent, cases such as this underscore two realities: the presence of serious interpersonal violence in neighbourhoods and the role of the criminal justice system in responding. While custodial sentences remove offenders from the community for a period, police and victim-support agencies say ongoing work is required to prevent harm and to support survivors through recovery.
What this means for local residents
People living in and around Tunstall and the wider city should be reassured that the prosecution and sentencing were completed and that statutory mechanisms are in place to monitor Simcock on release. However, victims’ advocates note that long-term change also depends on early intervention, accessible support services and effective policing at every stage.
Anyone with concerns about stalking, coercive behaviour, threats or sexual crimes is urged to contact Staffordshire Police or specialist support organisations. The force regularly asks for information, witnesses and material that could assist investigations; these channels remain open to anyone with relevant evidence.
The conviction is one of several recent cases in the region that has prompted a renewed focus on the resources available to support survivors and on how best to deter and detect predatory behaviour before it escalates.
