A 26-year-old man from Rugeley has been locked up for seven years after raping another man in a Burton-on-Trent hotel. Aaron Tugwell was convicted at Stafford Crown Court on Thursday 16 October for two counts of rape and one count of causing a man to engage in sexual activity.

Horrific Attack in Burton Hotel

The attack happened in October 2022. Tugwell lured the victim to his hotel room, then raped and assaulted him. When the victim tried to leave, Tugwell pressured him to stay, but he managed to get away and took a taxi home. The victim immediately reported the horrific ordeal to the police.

Police Crack Down on Sexual Offences

Staffordshire Police’s Rape and Serious Sexual Offences unit (RASSO) acted swiftly, supporting the survivor and gathering critical evidence against Tugwell. Despite denying the offences both during questioning and at trial, a jury found him guilty on all charges in July this year.

Tugwell has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.

Support for Survivors

Police have urged survivors of sexual crimes to come forward. “You will be taken seriously and treated with dignity and respect,” they said. Survivors can call 101 or use the Live Chat service on the Staffordshire Police website to get help.