Detectives praise bravery of sexual assault survivor as attacker is jailed

An investigation by Cleveland Police's CAVA Team (Child Abuse and Vulnerable Adults) was launched in 2022 after a report was made to police that a man had sexually assaulted a female.

Paul Jagger, 51, from South Shields, was arrested and subsequently charged in April 2024 with three sexual assaults and one attempted sexual assault.

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Jagger denied the offences but was found guilty of all charges at Newcastle Crown Court on Thursday 11 July 2024. 

He appeared at the same court on Friday 1 November for sentencing of those offences as well as sexual activity with a child and stalking which occurred in the Northumbria Police area.

Jagger was jailed for four years and six months.

Temporary Detective Sergeant, Natasha Barber, said: “I would like to thank the victim and her family in this case. They have shown incredible strength and resilience throughout the process.

“Due to Jagger denying the offences, the victim has had to relive the trauma of what has happened to her by giving evidence against him. Thankfully, the jury saw through Jagger's lies and returned a guilty verdict on all charges.

“No sentence can ever change what happened or Jagger’s actions, but I hope this goes some way in helping the victim and her family gain some closure.”

It’s never too late to report an incident to police; we have specially trained officers who will support you throughout. You can report at any time of day or night online via the Cleveland Police website or by phoning 101.