A Stoke-on-Trent man has admitted rape, strangulation, stalking and other offences against two women in north Staffordshire.

Jacob Leslie Simcock, 35, of Tunstall, appeared at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Tuesday (14 April).

He admitted two counts of rape of a woman, two counts of intentional strangulation, two counts of threatening to share a photograph or film of a person in an intimate state, one count of engaging in controlling / coercive behaviour and one count of stalking involving fear of violence.

Detective Constable Adele Thompson and Investigative Officer Janine Shropshire, from RASSO, said: "Simcock has inflicted a great deal of pain and suffering on the two brave women in this investigation, who have shown tremendous courage in coming forward.

"We are pleased we've been able to build all of the evidence needed to secure this conviction as early as possible, and I hope it now provides them some form of comfort knowing he is behind bars and awaiting sentencing."

Staffordshire Police explained that Simcock raped and strangled one of the women inside a house last year. He raped the same woman in a separate incident before offences were disclosed to the police.

A spokesperson for Staffordshire Police said: "After speaking to the survivor, we found out Simcock had also threatened to share explicit videos of the woman and had tried to stop her from contacting anyone.

"He told her he would 'batter' her and he'd run her over."

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Simcock also recorded both of the rapes. Officers later found the recordings and informed the survivor, who was unaware they existed.

Staffordshire Police also explained that Simcock strangled, stalked and threatened to share indecent images of another survivor last year.

Simcock asked the survivor to tell the police that she had been lying and he would try to call her from withheld numbers when she was at a police station.

He also told her that he 'isn't scared' about petrol bombing her house.

A spokesperson for Staffordshire Police said: "Officers from our rape and serious sexual offences unit (RASSO) worked tirelessly to support both of the survivors and to build all of the evidence needed to secure the charges against Simcock."

Simcock pleaded guilty, despite originally denying the offences on interview. He has now been remanded and is due to be sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on 9 July this year.

Staffordshire Police added: "If you're a survivor and you feel ready to talk to us, call 101 or use Live Chat on our website."