Aiden Phipps

Aiden Phipps, now 18 and residing on Huthwaite Road in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, has been imprisoned for 12 years and six months following convictions for a series of brutal sexual offences against five young girls. The attacks, which occurred when Phipps was aged between 15 and 17, involved rape, sexual assault, assault by penetration, and specifically rape of a child under 13. The case was heard at Derby Crown Court, where Judge Jonathan Bennett described Phipps' actions as devastating, stating that he treated the victims as 'just objects' despite their clear lack of consent.

The offences came to light through reports from the victims and their families, with one 17-year-old girl approaching police in November 2023 to report that Phipps had groped her sexually over her clothing. Investigations revealed a pattern of predatory behaviour, including pursuing a 12-year-old girl via Snapchat to arrange a meeting, where he then forcefully raped her. In another incident in 2023, Phipps dragged a 17-year-old girl into an abandoned area and forced intercourse upon her, pushing her back down each time she tried to escape, as detailed by prosecutor Dawn Pritchard. Several offences were committed while Phipps was on bail for prior arrests, highlighting his disregard for legal restrictions.

The impact on the victims was profound, with court statements revealing that some had attempted suicide following the assaults. The mother of one victim described her daughter as having 'shut down' completely, refusing to leave the house and entering shock at the sight of males; this girl had tried to take her own life in November 2022. Judge Bennett emphasised the 'significant risk of serious harm' Phipps posed, noting the irreparable damage to the girls' lives and the distress caused to their families. Despite mitigation from Phipps' defence barrister citing his difficult childhood—having been fostered from age four and diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and ADHD—a psychologist's report confirmed his ongoing risk of reoffending against young girls.

Phipps admitted to the charges, leading to his custodial sentence of 12 years and six months, with a requirement to serve at least nine years and six months before potential release, followed by a three-year extended licence period. He was also subjected to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order. The case, reported by the Mansfield and Ashfield Chad on 23 August 2024, underscores the severity of child sexual exploitation in the region, with Nottinghamshire Police handling the investigation.