Face of a dangerous rapist as catalogue of gruesome crimes is revealed

A vile rapist who abused multiple survivors across Staffordshire has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after his crimes were exposed. Sex offender Michael Lee Price was brought to justice after several survivors, both men and women, bravely came forward and explained what had happened to them.

Despite her own statements, the cheeky 22-year-old from Burton-on-Trent repeatedly denied the crimes. In July 2022, one of the survivors bravely came forward and told an adult what had happened to her.

She told them that Price had raped and sexually abused her. As Staffordshire Police’s investigation continued, other survivors came forward to give their own accounts.

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Price was arrested, questioned in custody and charged with several sexual offences, including rape, sexual abuse and causing a child to watch sexual acts. He continued to deny his crimes until a jury at Stafford Crown Court found him guilty in April this year.

Today, June 14, at Shrewsbury Crown Court, he was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment, suspended for three years. He was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for life and given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

The ten crimes for which he was convicted include:

• Two cases of rape of a girl
• Three cases of sexual assault of a girl
• A case of sexual abuse of a boy
• One count of inducing a child to engage in sexual acts
• One count of inducing a child to watch a sexual act
• One count of possession of extremely pornographic images
• One count of taking a photo of a child in an accident

Price also pleaded guilty to criminal damage, Staffordshire Police said. Detective Constable Bethan Otter, who works in the police’s child protection team, said the survivors’ bravery had ensured that a “dangerous sex offender” was sent to prison for a “long time”.

She said: “I am pleased that the jury was able to see all the evidence we have painstakingly gathered and the impact Price’s crimes have had on the survivors, despite his persistent denial.

“Findings like this are why officials are so passionate about speaking to survivors and encouraging them to come forward. It takes tremendous courage and bravery to tell people about these types of crimes, but with the right support we can take strong action against those responsible and get justice for those affected.

“I would like to thank the survivors in this case for their help in ensuring a dangerous sex offender spends a long time behind bars.” Police urged survivors of sexual offences to contact the force’s specially trained officers by calling 101 or messaging them using the live chat on the website. To report anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.