A sex attacker has been jailed after what Sussex Police said was an “extraordinary act of bravery from female officers”.
The force said: “A Littlehampton man who assaulted two women has been jailed after an incredible display of bravery by female police officers.
“On Saturday 2 September 2023, police received a report of a woman having been sexually assaulted while walking alone through Littlehampton town centre at night.
“She was followed and grabbed by an unknown man who sexually assaulted her, pushed her to the ground and fled the scene.
“CCTV footage showed the man loitering in the town centre for around an hour before following her into a residential area.
“Despite a search of the area by police, he could not be located.
“The suspect was also captured on CCTV following other women around the town centre.
“Suspecting the man posed an ongoing risk to other women, police deployed plain clothes officers to try to catch him.
“Police officers, in plain clothes, were deployed to Littlehampton town centre.
“In the early hours of Sunday 1 October, CCTV showed one of the officers – a woman in her twenties – being followed by a man who matched the description of the suspect.
“He tailed her for over 30 minutes through the town centre, along the seafront and into the residential Harsfold Road.
“Stankus tailed the female police officer for over 30 minutes
“Wearing a face covering, he chased after her, grabbed and assaulted her.
“He tried to flee the scene but officers nearby who were involved in the operation intercepted and arrested him.
“He was identified as 44-year-old Mark Stankus, of High Street, in Littlehampton, and subsequently charged with sexual assault and causing actual bodily harm.
“Stankus pleaded guilty to all charges and, at Porstmouth Crown Court on Friday 19 April, he was jailed for eight years, given a restraining order and became a registered sex offender for life.”
Detective Inspector Amanda Zinyama said: “Mark Stankus is a dangerous predatory offender who posed a clear and repeated risk to women in Littlehampton.
“The bravery shown by this young female police officer to help catch him cannot be overstated.
“She sacrificed her own safety to trap Stankus and put him behind bars. The streets of Sussex are safer as a result.
“I would also like to thank Stankus’s first victim for reporting her frightening ordeal to police and supporting this investigation through to its conclusion.
“This sentence should send a clear message to other predatory offenders that we will stop at nothing to keep the public safe and bring you to justice.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Richard McDonagh said: “This investigation is a prime example of how seriously we at Sussex Police take all reports of sexual assault.
“Initial inquiries into the first incident suggested a dangerous individual was at large and a dedicated patrol strategy was swiftly put in place to apprehend him.
“The co-ordinated operation brought together a number of teams, making sure we had officers in the right area at the right time to make an arrest.
“I would like to commend all involved for their outstanding work in making the streets of Littlehampton a safer place.”
Sussex Police added: “If you are a victim of a crime, please report it online or via 101. Always call 999 in an emergency.
“If you feel unsafe or uncomfortable in a particular area, you can report it anonymously via the StreetSafe app so we and our partners can put appropriate safety measures in place.”
