A sex offender from Southport, Adam Francis, has received an eight-year prison sentence for the rape of a woman. Adam Francis, 32, of Holmdale Avenue, Southport, disputed the charge of rape but was convicted and sentenced today, Friday, March 7, at Liverpool Crown Court. He was issued a lifelong restraining order prohibiting any contact with the victim and required to register on the sex offenders registry indefinitely.
During his trial, the court was informed that Francis had sexually assaulted a woman in Ainsdale in the early hours of Sunday, May 5, 2024.
Subsequent to an intricate investigation, officers apprehended Adam Francis, who was subsequently charged with the felony.
Detective Constable Chris Kingston said: “Adam Francis, by pleading not guilty, has forced the victim to endure a trial going through the harrowing event all over again. However, it is thanks to her courage and bravery that he is now off our streets and facing eight years in prison.
“Adam Francis was found guilty after we were able to provide the evidence that showed he was guilty of this heinous crime.
“Today’s result shows that violence against women and girls will simply not be tolerated and we will work tirelessly to bring perpetrators to justice.
“We are committed to protecting victims of sexual offences, and anyone who reports an incident to us will be safeguarded and supported throughout the investigation by specially trained officers and Sexual Violence Advocates who will provide all the relevant support.
“Anyone that has been a victim of a sexual offence, is concerned for the safety of someone they know or suspects someone to be engaging in this criminal activity, should come forward and speak to us.
“We have a team of dedicated staff who will expertly and compassionately deal with your reports and we will do everything we can to bring offenders to justice.”
Anyone with information or wants to report a sexual offence is asked to call 101 where you will be spoken to by specially trained officers or you can pass information to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. In an emergency, always call 999.
If you have been a victim of sexual assault or rape, you can access specialist support services, which are free of charge and available to anyone. You do not need a referral or to have reported an incident to Merseyside Police before you access these specialist support services.
These services can support you in a variety of ways, including offering a confidential discussion if you are thinking of making a police report, but are unsure what that involves and would like to discuss it.
If you do decide to report to Merseyside Police, you will receive support throughout the investigation and court processes.
You can choose to make an anonymous report through the Sexual Assault Referral Centre called Safe Place, or the Independent Sexual Violence Advisor service, rather than coming directly to Merseyside Police.
With no police involvement, a specialist doctor at Safe Place can examine you to check that you are okay and look for DNA evidence, which they will store to support your case. This gives you the option of making a formal police report at a later time, if you choose to.
Support is also available in Liverpool, Sefton and Wirral, from Rape and Sexual Abuse Support (RASA) Merseyside who are available on 0151 558 1801 and, in St Helens and Knowsley, by the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (RASASC) Cheshire and Merseyside who can be contacted on 01925 221 546 or 0330 363 0063.
If you do not require immediate police assistance then you can report rape and sexual assault via our website here: Rape, sexual assault and other sexual offences | Merseyside Police
Support is also available through the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Victim Care Merseyside service: Victim Care Merseyside | Merseyside Police
Alternatively, you can report a sexual offence by calling 101 or you can pass information to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. In an emergency, always call 999.
We have recently launched our plan to tackle the issue of violence against women and girls and help women and girls to feel safe and be safe across Merseyside. The link can be found here: #TakingAction to end Violence Against Women and Girls | Merseyside Police
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.