Ben Cotterill Jailed for Sexual Assault After Attacking Woman and Threatening Rape

A 'dangerous' sex attacker jailed after grabbing a woman around the neck and threatening to rape her.

Ben Cotterill, of The Moat, Weston Coyney, was sentenced to 32 months in prison at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court for sexual assault. The court heard that Cotterill attacked his victim as she walked home alone from Stoke-on-Trent railway station at 10:15pm. He grabbed her around the neck, pressed himself against her, and threatened to rape her.

Prosecutor Barry White described how Cotterill held onto the terrified woman for a minute, rubbing his crotch against her backside before pushing her into a fence. A delivery driver intervened, pushing Cotterill away, allowing the victim to escape and run home.

Cotterill denied assault upon his arrest but later pleaded guilty. He also admitted two charges of theft, stealing a hot tub from B&Q and a bottle of vodka from Bargain Booze in October 2024.

In a victim impact statement, the woman said she was left shocked, extremely shaken, and in need of counselling. She reported suffering from mental health issues and fears she will never be the same person again.

Cotterill’s defense attorney, Rashad Mohammed, argued that the incident was isolated and unlikely to be repeated, attributing his actions to poor memory due to substance abuse. He emphasized Cotterill's recent abstinence from drugs as a positive step.

Despite this, Judge David Fletcher sentenced Cotterill to 32 months imprisonment and placed him on the Sex Offenders' Register for 10 years.