Man jailed following sexual assault

A man has been jailed for more than three years after he admitted sexually assaulting a boy in the 90s. 

Kevin Toplass, 66, of Trentham, was sentenced to three-years-and-four-months behind bars at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court yesterday (Thursday 28 August) after admitting indecent assault on a boy under the age of 14 at an earlier hearing. 

We started investigating after the survivor bravely came forward and reported the incident to us in 2022. Toplass was brought in for questioning, where he denied the allegations.

Detectives in our public protection unit worked tirelessly to gather all of the available evidence, resulting in Toplass being charged with the offence. 

DC Simon Beardmore, who was the officer in charge of the case, said: “I’m pleased that we’ve been able to deliver this outcome for the survivor who has shown immense bravery over a number of years to come forward and tell people what Toplass did. 

“I want this to serve as a message to all survivors of sexual offences that we are determined to act against those responsible, no matter how recent or long ago the offences may have been.”

If you’re a survivor and you want to talk to us, please get in touch. Call 101 or use Live Chat on our website where specialist officers will be able to speak to you in confidence. 

We’re here to support survivors and to act robustly against perpetrators of sexual offences.