A man has been jailed after assaulting another man and committing an aggravated burglary in two separate incidents in Stoke-on-Trent and Stone.

James Dale, 41, of Blythe Bridge, was sentenced to six-years-and-ten-months in prison at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Thursday (23 April) after he admitted assaulting a person thereby occasioning them actual bodily harm and aggravated burglary.

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."

It comes after Dale was seen on CCTV approaching a man at Hanley bus station in April 2024.

Staffordshire Police explained that Dale punched him in the face, tied a cable around the man's neck and strangled him. After being arrested, he answered no comment to our questions in custody.

In September 2025, Dale went inside a barge moored at Newcastle Street, Stone, armed with a knife and told the person on the barge to give him his belongings.

The victim handed him a £20 note before running off the back of the barge to safety.

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When he returned, he found that a black rucksack containing clothes had been stolen from inside, along with a set of spanners, worth an estimated £180.

Dale was charged with both offences and brought before the courts, where he later pleaded guilty.

Another man who he was acting alongside in the aggravated burglary was also jailed separately at the same court. Ian Lincoln, 62, of Blurton, Stoke-on-Trent, was sentenced to four months in prison after he admitted handling stolen goods.