Nathan Staples

Nathan Staples, a 38-year-old man from Haverhill in Suffolk, was sentenced to 10 years and six months' imprisonment at Peterborough Crown Court on 25 September 2025, following his guilty pleas to serious sexual offences and coercive behaviour.

The case, investigated by Suffolk Constabulary, centred on a period of intense abuse that began shortly after Staples first met the victim. Over the course of just a few months, Staples subjected the victim to emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, including rape and sexual assault by penetration. His controlling behaviour was particularly pervasive; he demanded constant updates on her whereabouts, insisting she use FaceTime to show him who she was with at all times.

• Staples required the victim to share her live location with him continuously.
• He demanded screenshots and photos of her surroundings to verify her activities.
• Persistent calls and messages from Staples left the victim feeling isolated and trapped.
• He insisted on inspecting her phone and would physically fight her if she refused to hand it over.

Staples was arrested in November 2024 and subsequently charged, remaining in custody until his sentencing. In addition to the custodial sentence, he was made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order to protect the public from further harm.

Detective Constable Sam Flatt, the officer in charge of the investigation for Suffolk Constabulary, described the case as 'truly horrific'. In a statement, DC Flatt said: 'This is a truly horrific case where the victim was subject to emotional, physical, and sexual abuse over a period of only a few months from first meeting Staples. For those experiencing controlling and coercive behaviour it has a significant adverse impact on the victim’s quality of life, isolating them from their friends and family and making them feel trapped.' He praised the victim's courage in reporting the abuse, noting: 'I’d like to pay tribute to the victim in this case, who despite being subject to some truly abhorrent controlling behaviour, found great courage in coming forward and reporting what happened to her.'

The court proceedings highlighted the severity of Staples' actions, which not only involved direct sexual violence but also a systematic effort to dominate and control the victim's daily life. Suffolk Constabulary emphasised their commitment to treating such reports seriously, with specialist safeguarding officers providing support to victims throughout the process.