Former darts champion Ted Hankey jailed after pinning woman down and sexually assaulting her

Former world darts champion Ted Hankey has been jailed for two years for a sexual assault caught on camera. Hankey, 54, pinned a woman down and, with an “air of entitlement”, sexually assaulted his victim, Chester Crown Court heard.

Jailing him, Judge Steven Everett, Recorder of Chester, said Hankey would have “denied it to the bitter end” if the attack had not been caught on film. The footage was played to the judge after the courtroom had been cleared of public and press.

The 54-year-old of Wendover Grove, Berry Hill, Stoke-on-Trent, was also ordered to sign the Sex Offender Register for 10 years. During the hearing, the court was told how Hankey had sexually assaulted a woman at an address in Cheshire on September 2021. Unbeknown to him, the incident was caught on camera.

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The victim reported the incident to police and Hankey was arrested. During questioning he denied committing the offence, and subsequently answered ‘no comment’ after being shown the video footage.

Upon appearing at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on April 14m, he pleaded guilty to sexual assault. Following the sentencing Detective Constable Laura Bradshaw, of the Cheshire Police Public Protection Directorate, who led the investigation said: “Firstly I would like to commend the victim for the courage and bravery that see has shown throughout the investigation.

"The evidence she provided proved vital in Hankey’s prosecution and left him with no option but to plead guilty to the charge against him. While the victim will never be able to forget what Hankey subjected her to, I do hope that the conclusion of this case provides some closure and enables her to move forward with her