Jeno Pierre Maka

Jeno Pierre Maka, 21, of Stoke-on-Trent, received a sentence of four and a half years' imprisonment at Stafford Crown Court on 28 July 2022 for child sexual exploitation offences. Part of a group of seven arrested on 19 December 2018 by Staffordshire Police's Child Protection and Exploitation Team, the investigation targeted the abuse of three 13-year-old girls in Burton-upon-Trent from May to September 2018. Trials occurred in June 2021 and February 2022.

Maka was convicted on two counts of causing or inciting a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity. These convictions addressed the manipulative tactics used against the victims. Detective Sergeant Julie Pointon acknowledged: “We welcome these sentences and I would like to pay tribute to the girls’ incredible bravery in coming forward initially and throughout this long and complex investigation.”

Contributing to the 51-year total sentence for the defendants, the case demonstrates collaborative law enforcement efforts. Detective Constable Darren Mattocks said: “We remained focused on seeking justice and providing support to the victims, who remained our first priority.” Staffordshire Police reported the outcome on 2 August 2022, providing insight into the handling of such sensitive matters.