Man jailed for sexually assaulting 11 women

A man who sexually assaulted 11 women in one day has been jailed.

Duane Gardner attacked his victims in the Hanley, Shelton, Etruria and Hartshill areas of Stoke-on-Trent on 17 May last year.

They included a woman who was followed and assaulted at about 08:00 BST in Hanley Cemetery and another who was attacked by Gardner in Hanley after he asked her for directions.

The 25-year-old, of Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, was sentenced to 21 years in prison at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Thursday after admitting 10 counts of sexual assault and one of assault by penetration at a hearing in November.

Det Ch Insp Kate Tomkins said: "Gardner's actions were completely unacceptable and we will always seek the toughest punishment against perpetrators of sexual violence.

"I thank those involved for trusting us to seek justice on their behalf and recognise the courage it took for them to tell us about what happened."

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