A Stoke-on-Trent Paedophile, Liam Cotteril, has been incarcerated for engaging in sexual grooming of a 17-year-old female over an extended period in Stoke-on-Trent.
Liam Cotterill, a 30-year-old resident of Stoke-on-Trent, was convicted on Monday, 19 August, at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court for engaging in sexual contact with a minor and engaging in coercive and controlling behaviour.
He received a sentence of seven and a half years in prison for the crimes that started when the girl was in her early teenage years.
The court was informed that he had systematically manipulated the victim for a period exceeding three years, initially involving her in sexual acts in 2021.
Liam Cotterill employed coercive tactics to restrict the victim’s freedom of movement, compelled her to accompany him on a nationwide journey, and administered substances such as alcohol and drugs to her before subjecting her to an assault.
Despite the presence of a warning letter, he persistently harassed and intimidated the victim on many occasions.
During the questioning, he refuted all the charges but then confessed to them during the court proceedings.
Alongside his incarceration, Liam Cotterill was also subjected to a sex offender notification requirement, which entails frequent reporting to Staffordshire Police following his release.
Personal computer Liz Turley, the officer in charge of the investigation, stated that this was a complex and challenging case for the child protection team, which was occasionally intense and emotionally taxing.
The victim’s remarkable endurance throughout the case has been truly impressive. I hope that the case outcome will allow her to start rebuilding her life with the assistance of our partners and other organisations.
“Liam Cotterill is a cunning and domineering person, and I am glad that he has received a substantial prison term for his criminal actions, which he planned and executed over several years.”
“I trust that this result provides comfort to our communities, assuring them that if they have experienced a sexual offence, coercive control, or grooming, they will be trusted and aided, and we will make every effort to bring these offenders to justice and safeguard them.”
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.