A former football announcer has been jailed for three years and nine months after assaulting a young woman he kept prisoner in his home.
Joshua Adcroft began seeing the vulnerable 20-year-old in January 2024, when she had just come out of a relationship with another man. Manchester Crown Court heard how things quickly turned sour between the couple on a weekend away at a hotel in Manchester last April.
They argued in a bar on the Saturday night and the woman left and sent messages to Adcroft which he took to be suicide threats, LancsLive reports.
She told him she did not mean them in that way and was drunk – but the 31-year-old said he thought it was ‘a nasty thing to do’.
On the Sunday, the woman became homesick but Adcroft became ‘shouty and nasty’ about her wasting his money on a hotel room. He grabbed her by the wrists and threw her on the bed.
Joshua Adcroft, former Accrington Stanley announcer and trust board member has been jailed for false imprisonment, ABH and common assault
The woman was so afraid she texted her ex partner from the bathroom and asked him to call the police, who attended the hotel and arrested Adcroft on suspicion of assault, court heard.
Later that day the woman visited his home to collect her belongings. Adcroft was under bail conditions to stay away from her but welcomed the visit and the relationship continued, with the couple seeing each other four or five times a week.
“Even if you were concerned about her mental health there was no reason for you to be in contact with her,” Judge Kate Cornell said.
Then, on June 1, the couple argued over text as the woman did not want to join Adcroft on a trip to Liverpool. She was grieving the death of her grandmother and wanted to be left alone to visit the cemetery, the court heard.
If you’re experiencing domestic abuse, below you’ll find a list of organisations who can assist you:
Call the UK police non-emergency number, 101, if you need support or advice from the police and it’s not an emergency. If you have a hearing or speech impairment, use our textphone service on 18001 101.
Greater Manchester Domestic Abuse Helpline – Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm, except bank holidays. For anyone experiencing domestic abuse. Includes a language service and advice for the LGBT community.
End the Fear – Includes information on local help all over Greater Manchester.
Wigan and Leigh Dias drop-in centre – Works with women and men who are experiencing or recovering from domestic violence and abusive relationships and helps them to regain control of the situation.
Other support available can be found via: www.gmp.police.uk.
Adcroft turned up at the cemetery and the woman reluctantly agreed to go to his house, although she did not want to, the court heard. Back at his house, Adcroft took the woman’s phone and Apple watch from her and would not let her leave. He assaulted her, pushing her on her face causing bruising and marks.
He was aggressive and intimidating to the woman throughout the night and kept tabs on her as she moved around the property, court was told.
By 8am the following day, the woman was so scared she jumped from a first floor window with bare feet, suffering injuries to her feet as she landed. She ran to a nearby shop, barefoot, and asked staff to call for help.
“It can be seen by the statement from a passer by and from the shop’s CCTV just how distressed and upset she was,” Judge Cornell said. “It is clear she significantly injured her feet from that jump.
“There was only one cause. Your behaviour in detaining her against her will for more than eight hours and your aggression towards her. The offences show a lack of respect for women and for boundaries which you showed again in the commission of these offences.
Adcroft, 31, of Antley Street, Accrington, was convicted of common assault, ABH and false imprisonment following a trial at Preston Crown Court. The court heard Adcroft also has a previous conviction for possession of indecent images and has since pleaded guilty to further possession of indecent images and sexual communication with a child.
Preston Crown Court
(Image: MEN Media)
He had been released from police custody days before the visit to Manchester with his girlfriend, the court heard. The police had also been called out due to issues in his previous relationship.
In a victim impact statement, the woman said she now has trust issues and had undergone therapy as a result of her ordeal. At the time she started a relationship with Adcroft she was vulnerable due to her mental health difficulties and was recently out of another relationship. She was also grieving the death of her grandmorther when she was held captive in Adcroft’s home.
“This was a place she had spent a considerable amount of time in your company as your girlfriend,” Judge Cornell said. “It should have been a place of safety but it was not. It was a prison. There was violence used against her, assault and threats. The effect on her was significant. She felt compelled to jump from that window.”
A presentence report stated Adcroft had some remorse and is doing well in custody. But the judge said: “You were well aware of her mental health issues and you were well aware of her youth and emotional vulnerability. You were well aware of the fact she was grieving for her grandmother at the time.”
She sentenced Adcroft to three years and nine months for false imprisonment with 12 months for ABH and two months for common assault to run concurrently.
Adcroft was previously a board member of the Official Accrington Stanley Supporters’ Trust, but resigned his position last year. Accrington Stanley said he stopped working as an announcer for the club in April 2024.