A man has been sentenced to nearly seven years in prison for two separate incidents, including an assault in Hanley and an aggravated burglary in Stone.
James Dale, 41, of Blythe Bridge, was jailed for six years and ten months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Thursday 23 April after admitting assault occasioning actual bodily harm and aggravated burglary.
The first offence occurred in April 2024 at Hanley bus station, where Dale was caught on CCTV punching a man and strangling him with a cable. He did not answer police questions when arrested.
In September 2025, Dale entered a barge moored on Newcastle Street, Stone, armed with a knife. He demanded the occupant hand over his belongings. The victim gave him a £20 note before fleeing. On returning, the victim discovered a black rucksack containing clothes and a set of spanners worth around £180 had been taken.
Dale pleaded guilty to both offences. Another man involved, Ian Lincoln, 62, of Blurton, was sentenced to four months in prison after admitting handling stolen goods.
Sergeant Claire Goodridge, from the Stafford Borough local policing team, said
“I’m pleased we’ve been able to build the evidence needed to secure a custodial sentence against Dale for what he did across these two incidents.
“He has no doubt caused harm, whether physically or emotionally, to the two victims in this case and has rightfully been served with a prison sentence to reflect the severity of his offending”
