On Friday, 9 January 2026, the Offender Database reported that Paul Devaney, 42, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to life imprisonment at Teesside Crown Court. Devaney, described as a “monster,” was convicted of a campaign of extreme violence and sexual degradation against a woman in Stockton shortly after being released from a previous 10-year prison sentence.
The court heard that in March 2025, Devaney subjected the victim to a “catalogue of offences,” including punching her in the face, pinning her to a sofa, and restricting her breathing with his knee. Devaney raped the woman and recorded the assault on a mobile phone, using the footage to taunt and threaten her. After the attack, he “frogmarched” the naked victim down a flight of stairs and threatened to abandon her on the street. The prosecution, led by Shaun Dodds, detailed how Devaney also refused to let the woman leave the flat, stamping on her face and hitting her back. Investigating officer Detective Constable Jess Mangham praised the survivor’s immense bravery in coming forward despite the significant trauma she endured.
Devaney’s history of predatory and violent behaviour includes a prior 10-year prison sentence for stamping on the stomach of a woman who was nine months pregnant. During his time on remand for his latest crimes, he also assaulted a correctional officer, causing further delays to his sentencing. At Teesside Crown Court, Devaney pleaded guilty to rape, assault with intent to commit a sexual offence, false imprisonment, and controlling and coercive behaviour.
Paul Devaney was sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommendation to serve a minimum of eight years before being eligible for parole. He was also handed a lifetime restraining order to protect the survivor. Even if released, Devaney will remain on licence for the rest of his life, meaning he can be immediately recalled to prison for any further misconduct or breach of conditions.
As a result of his convictions for rape and serious sexual violence, Devaney is a registered sex offender for life. He is managed under the highest level of Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) in the Stockton and Cleveland areas. This framework ensures that Cleveland Police and the National Probation Service maintain permanent, intensive monitoring of his residency and movements to protect the public from his extreme history of violence and sexual predation.
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