NEED TO KNOW
- A U.K. man was sentenced to 26 years in prison for sexually assaulting eight female victims between the ages of 16 and 27
- Police said Ricky Stubberfield, 31, lured many of the victims to his teeth whitening salon with the promise of free treatment
- At Stubberfield’s sentencing hearing on Oct. 21, the judge called his behavior “utterly remorseless predation”
A U.K. man who sexually assaulted multiple women after luring them into his teeth whitening salon with the promise of free services will spend decades behind bars.
Ricky Stubberfield, 31, was sentenced to 26 years in prison, followed by six years of probation on Oct. 21, according to a statement from the Devon and Cornwall Police. He will also be registered as a sex offender.
Stubberfield was found guilty in June of 23 criminal offenses, including rape, sexual assault, digital penetration, indecent exposure and making an indecent image of a child. Authorities said the charges were related to eight female victims, who were between the ages of 16 and 27 at the time.
Police said many of Stubberfield’s victims were “popular young women” he messaged on Instagram to offer them “free treatments” in exchange for promoting his teeth whitening business in Plymouth, U.K., on their platforms, the statement reads.
“Between 2022 and 2024 he had abused five women, all in their 20s, at the teeth whitening and tanning salon,” police said. “Four victims were sexually touched while receiving teeth whitening treatments, three from his social media offers. He also exposed himself to a fifth victim.”
“Once in the treatment chair with a mouth guard in, he took advantage and sexually assaulted them, asked for photos and made repeated forceful sexual advances,” police added.
Police began investigating Stubberfield in February 2022 when a 16-year-old girl reported that Stubberfield had sexually assaulted her on two occasions that month, per the statement.
The victim said the sexual assaults happened during a concert — once in a bathroom and in Stubberfield’s van — and later at a house.
Police said some of the offenses were captured during a FaceTime call to her friend after Stubberfield “brazenly pulled her out of view to sexually assault her and forced her to commit a sexual act upon him.”
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As the investigation continued, police learned of the sexual assaults at the teeth whitening salon and identified two other victims, who said they were also sexually assaulted by Stubberfield in 2013 and 2021.
At Stubberfield’s sentencing hearing, the judge called his behavior “utterly remorseless predation,” per the statement, adding that he poses a “very high risk of harm” to the public.
Additionally, Detective Inspector Marcus Hodges praised the victims for their “strength and bravery.”
“I sincerely hope that they may find some closure and be able to start moving forward with their lives following this outcome,” Hodges said, per the statement.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.
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