Michael Lee Price

A 22-year-old man from Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, has been imprisoned for 14 years following his conviction for a series of serious sexual offences against multiple child victims. Michael Lee Price appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court on 14 June 2024, where he was sentenced after a jury at Stafford Crown Court found him guilty of ten counts in April 2024. The offences, which involved the rape and sexual assault of young girls and boys, highlighted the predatory nature of Price's actions in the region.

The investigation began in July 2022 when one of the survivors, a girl, bravely disclosed to an adult that Price had raped and sexually assaulted her. Staffordshire Police promptly launched an inquiry, leading to additional survivors coming forward with their own harrowing accounts of abuse. Price was arrested and questioned in custody, where he initially denied all allegations. Despite his persistent denials, the evidence gathered by the police, including victim testimonies, proved compelling enough for the jury to convict him on all sexual offence counts.

• Two counts of rape of a girl
• Three counts of sexual assault of a girl
• One count of sexual assault of a boy
• One count of causing a child to engage in sexual activity
• One count of causing a child to watch a sexual activity
• One count of possessing extreme pornographic images
• One count of making an indecent photograph of a child

Price also pleaded guilty to one count of criminal damage unrelated to the sexual offences. In addition to the 14-year custodial sentence, he received an extended licence period of three years upon release, was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life, and subjected to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order to protect the public from further harm.

Detective Constable Bethan Otter, from Staffordshire Police's child protection team, led the investigation. She commended the survivors' courage, stating: “I’m pleased that the jury were able to see all of the evidence we’ve worked hard to gather and the effect Price’s crimes had on the survivors, despite his persistent denial. Results like this are the reason why officers are so passionate about speaking to survivors and encouraging them to come forward.” The case underscores the importance of reporting such crimes, as the collective bravery of the victims ensured that Price, described as a dangerous sex offender, was held accountable. This outcome was reported by Staffordshire Police on 14 June 2024.