William Preece

A 36-year-old man from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, named William Preece, has been imprisoned for serious sexual offences against a child committed in Staffordshire.

Preece pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to two counts of rape of a girl and one count of sexual assault of a girl. The offences took place in Staffordshire, though specific dates were not disclosed in the court proceedings.

On 1st December 2025, Preece was sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court to 17 years behind bars. The court determined the custodial sentence based on the severity and prolific nature of his offending.

Detective Constable Angela Maxfield, who investigated the case, commented on the outcome: “Preece was prolific in his offending and has rightfully been put behind bars for his crimes.” She emphasised the support available to survivors, underscoring the police commitment to pursuing such cases regardless of when the offences occurred.

Detective Inspector Adam Goodger, from the public protection unit, added: “We’re determined to seek the toughest possible punishment in court for those responsible for violence, abuse and intimidation against women and girls in Staffordshire. I’m pleased that we’ve been able to build all of the evidence needed to secure this outcome against a sex offender who committed a series of crimes in our community.”

The case was handled by Staffordshire Police, highlighting their resolve in tackling sexual exploitation and child sex offences within the region.