This is Staffordshire --RAPIST Stuart Thom has been jailed for seven years.
The 37-year-old raped a woman and sexually assaulted two schoolgirls before being arrested by police.
Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard Thom indecently assaulted his first victim and went on to have sex with her while she was a schoolgirl.
Years later he raped a woman and sexually assaulted a young girl.
But it emerged the girl told a relative what had happened and Thom was arrested in 2011.
His first victim and the rape victim then came forward to make their complaints.
The first offences happened when Thom was a teenager. Prosecutor Steven Bailey told the court yesterday: "It began by him touching the girl and progressed to sexual intercourse."
The court heard the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has needed counselling after being traumatised by Thom's actions.
Thom, of Stanley Street, Tunstall, pleaded guilty to four charges of indecent assault, five other sexual offences, one count of rape; and two charges of sexual assault of a child under 13.
Peter McCartney, mitigating, said Thom is remorseful.
He added: "He has reflected upon his behaviour.
"He has demonstrated a genuine willingness to implement the required actions to sustain long-term change to reduce the likelihood of re-offending."
Mr McCartney added that the offending against the first victim happened a long time ago but conceded it had a significant effect on her. He added that the sexual assaults on the third victim happened on one occasion.
Jailing Thom for seven years, Judge David Fletcher said: "You have pleaded guilty to a number of sexual offences which span a considerable period of time.
"What you did was wrong, on every single level."
Thom was placed on the Sex Offenders' Register and made the subject of an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order.
Staffordshire Police today welcomed the jail term handed down to Thom.
Detective Inspector Andy Maxfield said: "Staffordshire Police will not tolerate people who abuse children." Reported by This is 18 hours ago.