25-year-old Rhyss Laws Sentenced to 45 Months for Sexual Assault and Exposure

Rhyss Laws, 25, of Storey Crescent, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, has been sentenced to 45 months in prison for a sexual assault and exposure incident that occurred in Ashington on November 19, 2024.

Laws attempted to convince a teenage girl to engage in sexual activity before using force and exposing himself at an address in Ashington. The victim escaped from Laws and reported the attack to Northumbria Police the following day.

At Newcastle Crown Court last month, Laws pleaded guilty to the sexual assault and exposure charges. He also admitted to offenses committed in the Teesside area, including dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, drink driving, driving without insurance, and criminal damage.

In addition to the prison sentence, Laws will remain on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

This is not Laws' first conviction for sexual assault. He was previously jailed for sexual assault and assault following a street attack on a woman in Ashington in October 2017.

Detective Inspector Andrew Doyle of Northumbria Police stated, "Laws is a dangerous predator, and our communities are undoubtedly a safer place as a result of this sentence. The victim was subjected to a terrifying ordeal, and I hope this process gives her the closure she needs to start to move on with her life. We hope this sentence sends a clear message to victims: You will be listened to, you will be supported, and we will do everything in our power to secure justice on your behalf."