Overview
- A jury found John Mace guilty of two counts of sexual assault on a child and one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and Recorder Jamie Hill sentenced him to 33 months in prison on Tuesday.
- Prosecutors told the court the offences involved two underage victims at separate times, including an incident in which Mace allegedly incited a teenage girl to sexual activity over the Christmas holidays.
- Cleveland Police opened an inquiry in 2021 after a victim first reported abuse and arrested Mace in 2022 after a second complainant came forward.
- The court imposed an indefinite restraining order and ordered Mace to remain on the sex offenders' register for life while his defence maintains he denies the offences and had asked for a suspended sentence, noting non-sexual previous convictions and stable employment.
- Police praised the victims for coming forward and reporting routes and local support services such as the Teesside Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Barnardo’s, Arch and Crimestoppers were highlighted for anyone affected.