Thomas Howells

Thomas Howells, a 19-year-old resident of Stoke-on-Trent, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on 29 January 2021 following his conviction for rape. The offence occurred on 28 May 2019, when Howells was 17 years old. The court heard that the victim had been playing video games with Howells and his friend in the afternoon before falling asleep on the sofa. She awoke to find herself in the bedroom, dressed in different clothing, having been raped by Howells while unconscious and unable to consent.

Following the assault, Howells fled the scene by taxi, and the victim promptly contacted the police. During his initial police interview, Howells admitted to the rape, acknowledging that the victim could not consent due to her unconscious state. However, he later retracted this admission during the legal proceedings. The trial took place in December 2020, where a jury found him guilty. In a powerful moment during the trial, the victim read a statement detailing the profound and ongoing impact of the crime on her life.

In addition to the custodial sentence, Howells was ordered to be placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life. The case was investigated by Staffordshire Police's Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) team. Detective Inspector Zoe Kelsall commented on the outcome, stating that the specialist officers were pleased to secure the sentence, which they hoped would provide some closure to the victim, who demonstrated great courage throughout the process. The force emphasised their serious approach to such crimes, as reported in the Moorlands Radio article published on 1 February 2021.