Search results for Manchester

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Ryan Greenhow (20/02/1989) of Oldham has been jailed for seven years and four months at Manchester Crown Square Court today (Tuesday 24 February 2026).

Greenhow pleaded guilty to 22 counts of non-contact child sex offences including child sexual exploitation, sharing images or film to cause alarm, causing or inciting a child aged under 16 to engage in sexual activity and malicious communications at an earlier hearing.

The offences occurred between November 2024 and March 2025 and involved Greenhow contacting six victims via social media platforms including WhatsApp, TikTok and Snapchat.

Greenhow then blackmailed the victims into sending him indecent image. He would send the victims, aged between 12-15, an indecent image, making claims that the image depicted them when it was a picture of a naked woman obtained from the internet, and threatened to send the image to their friends and family if the victims did not do as Greenhow said.

This led to him making demands for indecent images from victims located in areas across Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Buckinghamshire.

Greenhow would then send numerous text messages threatening his victims, including saying “This is your last chance, everyone will know this is you” and “I have seen your nudes, add me”.  On some occasions the victim would respond and say that she did not know what they were talking about, but kept receiving messages telling them that it was their “last chance”.

Some of the victims did send Greenhow images and reported his activity to their parents, carers and school teachers.

We are committed to tackling child sexual offending across Greater Manchester. Between April 2023 and May 2025, Snapchat was identified as being the biggest social media platform involved in cases, with it being involved 61% of the time.

Strangers not known to the victim account for almost half (49%) of online offenders, with 22% of all our child sexual abuse offences within GM in 2023/2024 being online, which is slightly above the national picture of 20% being online.

Greenhow will also be made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Detective Constable Adair, of our City of Manchester Division, said:

“Firstly, I would like to thank the victims in this case for coming forward, reporting their ordeal to the police and allowing us to investigate, resulting in today’s sentencing.

“Greenhow used several different social media platforms pretending to be a 15-year-old boy and followed the same method with each of his victims – sending them random images obtained from the internet, falsely attributing them to the victim, then threatening to share the image with the victim’s friends and family in exchange for an indecent image of the victim.

“Once our investigation was underway, detailed phone analysis led to us identifying further victims. Officers worked to safeguard these victims from any further harm.

“This sentencing is part of our wider work to tackle child sexual exploitation and we’re committed to protecting victims and bringing offenders to justice.”

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Usama Al-Sari (14/08/1997) of Moorton Avenue, Manchester has been sentenced today (16 January) at Manchester Crown Court after pleading guilty to rape, sexual assault, intent to commit a sexual offence, possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, making threat to kill, and possession of a class B controlled drug.

He will serve 14 years in prison and an additional eight years on license. He will also be subject to an indefinite restraining order and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

On Tuesday 9 September 2025, we received a report that a woman had been raped at Heaton Mersey Park, Stockport. Our officers then worked quickly and effectively to find and detain the offender and ensure the victim was safe from further harm. He was arrested within the hour of the original report.

The victim disclosed to officers that Al-Sari had approached her and forced her to come with him whilst threatening her with what seemed to be a firearm. Upon arriving at the park, Al-Sari proceeded to rape the victim, who managed to later escape and run to a place of safety.

Thanks to the immense support of the public who helped the victim after the incident, and following further calls to report from the public and the offender, our officers were able to attend the location where they arrested Al-Sari and found the weapon, which was thankfully deemed a non-viable firearm.

Following the sentencing, the victim shared:  "I want to thank the police for their care, professionalism, and safeguarding-led approach. Being supported and treated with dignity made a huge difference, and I hope this case encourages all institutions to reflect on how they support victims of serious violence."

Detective Constable Heather Parke, the officer in the case, said:

"Following this sentencing I hope this outcome provides reassurance to the victim and our wider communities.

"I want to commend the victim for her courage during this investigation. Coming forward and reporting this incident enabled our officers to ensure the offender saw justice and the victim was able to receive the right support.

“This is a shocking and incredibly rare incident and will have an immeasurable impact on the victim. We understand this incident is deeply concerning, and I want to reassure our communities that incidents of this nature are treated with the highest priority.

"Our commitment is to protect victims, provide the right care and support and pursue justice and we encourage any victims to come forward and report."

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A Bury resident has been convicted of child sex offences.

Stephen Shaw, of Cornwall Drive in Bury, appeared at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on Thursday, January 8, charged with engaging in sexual activity with a child and sexual communication with a child.

The 24-year-old was sentenced to a total of 22 months' imprisonment and placed on the sex offenders register for ten years.

A ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) has also been put in place on Shaw.

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Jordan Gouldmartin (28/11/1994) of Ludlow Drive, Leigh, was found guilty by a jury of sexual assault of a boy under the age of 13.

Following the verdict yesterday (Thursday 8 January 2026) Gouldmartin was sentenced to five years imprisonment at Manchester Crown Square Court.

On release, Gouldmartin will be subject to a five-year licence period. The court also imposed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a lifetime restraining order to protect the victim.

Detective Constable Jennifer Bradley said:

“We welcome the sentence handed down at Crown Court. This outcome reflects the gravity of the offence and the importance of safeguarding vulnerable members of our community.

“I want to personally thank the young victim for their courage in coming forward and reporting this horrific incident to the police.

“Their strength has been instrumental in securing justice and ensuring protections are now in place to prevent further harm.”

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A man has been jailed at Manchester Crown Court for the sexual abuse of a vulnerable teenage girl between 2016 and 2018.

Hasnain Ahmed (22/08/2000), of Blakey Street, South Manchester, was jailed for two and a half years yesterday (Monday 5 January 2026) after being found guilty in November 2025 of:

• Four counts of sexual assault of a child under 13 by touching
• Sexual assault of a child under 13 by penetration
• Two counts of causing/ inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity

Ahmed has also been given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and a restraining order against the victim, both for a period of ten years.

The court heard how Ahmed, who was 17 at the time of the offences, repeatedly coerced the victim into sexual acts without consent. The victim bravely disclosed the abuse in April 2021 and later provided a detailed video interview to police. Her account revealed a pattern of escalating abuse over a two-year period.

She said:

This abuse changed the course of my entire life. What should have been years of innocence, safety and growth were instead filled with fear, shame and confusion.

[To Ahmed]

I want you to understand that your actions did not end when the abuse stoppedthey continue to affect me every single day, shaping my future in ways I never chose. You took my childhood, my trust, and half of my youth, and I will carry the consequences of your crime for the rest of my life.

Detective Constable Sarah Dixon of GMPs Online Child Abuse Investigation Team, said:

I would like to commend the courage and bravery of the victim in coming forward. She was just 11 when the abuse started, and her detailed testimony has ensured that Ahmed is held accountable for his actions.

We hope todays sentencing alongside the SHPO offers a measure of justice to the victim and her family. Reports of this nature are treated with the utmost seriousness, and our dedicated investigation team worked tirelessly to ensure that those responsible were held to account.

Offences of this nature have no time limit. Regardless of when it occurred or the age of the victim at the time, we will listen, provide support, and pursue a thorough investigation. We remain committed to taking decisive action against perpetrators and to treating all victims with dignity, respect, and compassion.

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A man has been jailed today, Friday 19 December, for the rape of a woman in St Helens.

Greg Brookes, 37 years, of Farm Meadow Road in Wigan, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court and was jailed for four years four months and was issued with a five-year restraining order for victim.

He was found guilty of rape of a woman 16 years of age or over following a week-long trial earlier this month.

Detective Constable Lauren Baker, who led the investigation, said:

“Following a lengthy investigation and despite the evidence against him, Brookes put the victim through the trauma of a trial.

“I would like to praise the courage and dignity shown by the victim throughout the investigation and court proceedings. Today’s results shows that violence against women and girls will simply not be tolerated and we will work tirelessly to bring perpetrators to justice.

“We are committed to protecting victims of sexual offences, and anyone who reports an incident to us will be safeguarded and supported throughout the investigation by Specially Trained Officers and Sexual Violence Advocates who will provide all the relevant support.

“Anyone that has been a victim of a sexual offence, is concerned for the safety of someone they know or suspects someone to be engaging in this criminal activity, should come forward and speak to us.

“We have a team of dedicated staff who will expertly and compassionately deal with your reports and we will do everything we can to bring offenders to justice.

“We take all such reports extremely seriously, and work with partner organisations such as Victim care Support Service and RASA who are there to support victims if this crime.”

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Greater Manchester Police detectives have praised a woman's bravery after her rapist was jailed for seven years.

Andre Reid, 26, of Woodside Street, Tameside, was sentenced for rape at Manchester Crown Court on Friday, December 5, 2025. A restraining order was issued, prohibiting contact with the victim.

The anonymous woman, aiming to encourage others to report abuse, bravely read her impact statement in court.

She said: “I’ve chosen to stand here and read this to you myself. Because for the last seven years, my voice has been taken from me. For seven years, I have carried the weight of what you did in silence.

“You need to hear the impact of your choices in my own words, in my own voice. Because I am the person you hurt, and I need you to hear it from me to face the pain you caused, the fear you left behind, and the way my life changed because of you.

“You need to understand that no matter what you took from me that night, you cannot take my ability to stand here and speak my truth to you.”

She concluded: “I can finally say this – I survived you, Andre. I am free from your control, free from your lies, free from the shame that never belonged to me. I can finally start to live again, and that’s something you will never be able to take away from me ever again.”

The non-consensual rape occurred in June 2018 while she was asleep.

Detective Sergeant John Dineen of GMP’s Rochdale district said:

“This was a devastating assault on a victim which occurred when she was at her most vulnerable – asleep in a bed. She showed immense bravery to report Reid’s offending, and to continue through the trial process.

“To stand up in court and face him despite everything she has been through should be commended and I hope the sentence he has received will be of some comfort to her to give her some closure to this devastating ordeal.

“Detectives conducted a full and thorough investigation to establish the facts of the case with several witnesses spoken to, as well as the woman continuing to be supported throughout the case.

“We want this to be a message to everyone that if you are a victim please come forward and report offenders to us. We will support you with care and consideration to ensure it is thoroughly investigated and perpetrators can be brought to justice.”

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A paedophile who used fake online profiles to groom and sexually assault teenage girls has been jailed for 10 years, with an additional three years on license.

Scott Kirkham, from Tameside in Greater Manchester, was caught posing as a teenage after an investigation by our Complex Safeguarding Team in Tameside in conjunction with several police forces.

Kirkham pleaded guilty to 30 offences:

• Sexual communication x6
• Cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity x10
• Cause a child to watch a sexual act x6
• Engaging in sexual activity with a child x5
• Malicious communication x2
• Sexual assault on a female over 16

Kirkham, (7/2/2002), of Hope Street, Audenshaw, was jailed for 10 years at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court. He will spend another three years on license, have an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and remain on the sex offenders' register. 

His offending first came to light after reports from Oxfordshire and south Wales tracked his IP address to Tameside.

He created numerous social media accounts, pretending to be teenager ‘Jake Richardson’ aged 14-16 and using a fake photo to befriend and groom nine vulnerable victims aged from 13 to 17 between March 2020 and April 2021.

He met three of his victims – sometimes with their parents present – in Cumbria and Blackpool, and also sexually assaulted one girl at his address in Tameside.

Detective Constable Angela Pavitt, from our Tameside Complex Safeguarding Team, said:

“We had a report from Oxfordshire and one from south Wales where the IP of the suspect was tracked to Tameside – as part of our investigation we tied these reports to Kirkham.

“Kirkham targeted vulnerable girls, some who were self-harming or in care, pretending to be ‘Jake Richardson’.

“The victims turned to him for help and support – often he would mock them and encourage them to self-harm.

“He met his victims on five occasions, in Manchester, Blackpool, Cumbria and Tameside, and carried out his vile abuse.”

Kirkham was arrested in April 2021 and charged with 41 offences, eventually pleading guilty to 30, and had been on remand since December 2024.

During the investigation, his electronic devices were seized and forensically examined – they included multiple email and social media accounts, and archived WhatsApp chats with teenage girls.

Some of the messages Kirkham sent contained explicit images of his body parts.

DC Pavitt said:

“We welcome the conviction and sentence of Kirkham, who is a manipulative and dangerous individual who posed a significant threat to vulnerable children in our community.

“Kirkham engaged in a sustained campaign of deceit, coercion, and abuse, using fake online identities to groom and exploit young victims.

“Thanks to the bravery and resilience of the victims, and the tireless work of the Tameside Complex Safeguarding Team, under Operation Casement, we have successfully removed a high-risk sexual predator from our streets.

“Kirkham’s actions were calculated and predatory, and his conviction reflects the seriousness of the offences committed.

“We want to extend our deepest gratitude to the victims and their families for their courage throughout the investigation and trial - their strength has been instrumental in securing justice and protecting others from further harm.

“Greater Manchester Police remains committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable individuals. We urge anyone with concerns or information about exploitation to come forward. Together, we can continue to protect our communities and hold offenders accountable.

“You will be believed and listened to, no matter how long ago the abuse occurred.”

Kirkham's actions have had a significant and detrimental affect on his victims.

Our Complex Safeguarding teams are multi-agency units comprising children’s social care and health professionals working with police officers to protect children and young people from exploitation and harm.

Detective Chief Inspector Anna Barker, GMP's Vulnerability Lead in Tameside, said:

"At the heart of the team’s mission is a commitment to safeguarding through prevention, education, and enforcement.

"Police officers embedded within the team attend daily multi-agency meetings to support with decision making, engage directly with children and families, and lead investigations into exploitation offences. 

"This integrated model ensures that children receive holistic support while perpetrators are identified, disrupted, and prosecuted."

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A man who subjected his partner to months of coercive control and sexual abuse has been sentenced to 19 years in prison with an additional five years on license following release.

Michael Ball (05/10/1994) of Beechwood Crescent, Leigh was found guilty of four counts of rape and two counts of controlling and coercive behaviour in relation to two victims. A restraining order is also in place against Ball and he will permanently remain on the sex offender's register. 

In a trial at Bolton Crown Court in September, the jury heard how between October 2020 and January 2021, Ball controlled every aspect of his partner’s – Jasmin – life. He dictated what clothes she could wear, calling her a ‘slag’ if he did not think her clothing was appropriate, and isolated her from family and friends who had warned her about his behaviour.

His controlling ways did not end there. Ball would monitor her movements constantly, prevented her from attending social gatherings, and even forced her to quit her job as a carer. He also took out loans in her name and accessed her bank accounts without consent.

Jasmin was also told to remain upstairs when parties were hosted at their address, with Ball telling guests that she wasn’t in so they couldn’t talk to her. She was repeatedly assaulted during the relationship, often leaving her with bruises.

The court also heard that the 31-year-old strangled her on several occasions, including one harrowing incident where he wrapped a dressing gown cord around her neck and attempted to choke her.

In January 2021 the abuse escalated to sexual violence. Jasmin recalls how she told Ball no when he came upstairs asking her for sex whilst being in an intoxicated manner. However, two hours after that interaction, she awoke to him raping her.

She was too terrified to resist, knowing he had previously threatened to kill her if she ever reported him to police.

Officers arrested ball on 19 January 2021 following this the above incident and denied all allegations while in custody.

Ball was later charged with five counts rape, one count of control and coercion, and a Section 47 assault. He was also found guilty at court of two counts of rape relating to a victim from the Lancashire area.

Jasmin, who has bravely waived her right to anonymity, read out her victim impact statement at court, she said:

“I wish I could go back in time and tell myself that it will all be okay and you will get through this. Since 2021 my life has completely changed, and it has taken me such a long time to feel like myself.

“On occasion when I do unfortunately think back to the relationship and the things which Michael did to me like the assaults, putting me in the suitcase and abuse I still remember the feeling of him touching me, how it felt on my body when he was doing it to me.

“It did take me some time, but I did manage to get in a relationship and I am now the proud mum to a lovely son who is my whole world and I know that through my love and care he will not treat any women or person the way Michael treated me.

"I know that I am entitled to life-long anonymity, but I feel now that I am free from everything and I am happy to waive this right in order to stand up for what is right and not be silenced or restricted from saying what happened to me.

“I have also now started a domestic abuse survivors group session and even though it is early I feel this will help me with processing anything left which I need to.”

Jessica Daley, Independent Domestic & Sexual Abuse Advisor from Wigan Council said: 

“It’s been a long and difficult journey to justice but I’m immensely proud of Jaz – her resilience, bravery and how far she’s come over the past few years.

“Much as I’m thrilled for her, any sentence he gets doesn’t make up for the fact that he never should have abused her in the first place.”

Detective Sergeant Sean Goddard from our Wigan division said:

"This case demonstrates the devastating impact coercive control and sexual violence can have on a victim. Michael Ball stripped away Jasmin’s independence, dignity, and safety through and manipulation.

“His actions were calculated and relentless, leaving Jasmin feeling trapped and terrified in her own home.

“I would like to commend her courage in speaking out, and in the process waving her right to anonymity, and wanting to send a clear message that abuse in any form will never be tolerated.

"I am incredibly proud of Jasmin for the bravery she's shown in coming forward and throughout the investigation. It takes a huge amount of strength to speak up about domestic abuse and we understand reaching out is never easy.

"The courage Jasmine has shown is truly remarkable and we will continue to support her throughout her journey as she continues to move forward and heal.

“We will pursue the likes of Ball and bring them before the courts, no matter how long it takes. If you are suffering abuse, please reach out – help and support are available, and you do not have to face this alone."

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Stephen Heap has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for sexual assaults on a female in the Vale of Glamorgan.

His offences were reported to South Wales Police when a victim bravely came forward in 2020.

Witnesses were traced across the UK as part of a thorough and protracted investigation.

Heap, of Chadderton, Oldham, denied the offences but was found guilty following a trial at Cardiff Crown Court in June 2025.

He was convicted of nine offences - four indecent assaults, two sexual assaults, assault of a child by penetration, sexual activity with a child and assault by penetration.

The 58-year-old was sentenced at Merthyr Crown Court on November 7, 2025, to 16 years in prison plus one-year extended licence.

In a statement to the court, the victim described experiencing nightmares, feeling isolated, and ‘unable to trust anyone’, because of Heap’s actions.

Officer in the case Detective Constable Stephen Jenkins, from South Wales Police, said:

“Justice would not have been obtained had it not been for the immense strength, courage and resilience demonstrated by the victim throughout the five-year period comprising of the investigation and the court process.

“I hope that the outcome at court allows the victim to find some peace and live the life that she deserves.”

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On Thursday 13 November 2025 at Manchester Crown Court, William Howarth (28/07/2002), of Miles Platting, was sentenced to nine years and eight months in prison with a further six years on licence, at Manchester Crown Court.

It follows an investigation by our Sex Offender Crime Investigation Team (SOCIT) after Howarth was found to be in possession of an unregistered mobile phone in a visit from his offender manager in 2023, due to him being an already registered sex offender managed by GMP through a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).  

Howarth was subject to routine checks where he had to register his mobile device and hand it over to his offender manager from our Sex Offender Management Unit (SOMU) during home visits. 

Howarth was found to be in breach of his SHPO, and his mobile device was immediately seized and through forensic analysis, a number of messages were found to have been sent to several young girls under the age 16. 

An investigation was immediately launched, and with the help of police forces across the country, we managed to trace the children Howarth had been in communication with and they bravely agreed to give their accounts. 

One of the child victims told police how Howarth would call her “fat” and a “whore”. Whilst he told another girl how he liked her petite body and how big he would look next to her.

Another victim was living in terror after Howarth told her that nobody would believe what she had to say because she was young. In a message to her, he said “it sounds wrong but honestly don’t want to leave you. I’d rather risk it with you then leave u”, following him then disclosing to her his real age.  

Howarth would send messages to these child victims about what he would like to do to them sexually, and would frequently request indecent images of themselves, directing what poses he wanted them to do for him. In return, he would send them videos of himself masturbating. 

The child victims also explained how they felt pressured into sending him pictures of themselves to Howarth, and some were even subjected to threats from him. 

One child victim described to police how she blocked Howarth on a social media site, but that she would receive friend requests from different accounts he would use to continue to message her. When he did manage to message her, he would threaten to distribute images of her online. 

Howarth displayed controlling behaviour over the children he had been in contact with, not allowing them to refuse his requests. When the children attempted to make a stand and refuse to send further images, Howarth would threaten them by stating if they didn’t do as he asked, he would post their images online for people to see. 

In a hearing at Manchester Crown Court on 10 November 2025, Howarth pleaded guilty to the following 35 offences: 

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Shazad Mughal (13/11/1977) of Tansley Road, Crumpsall was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison on Friday 7 November 2025 after being found guilty of one count of rape and one count of sexual assault by penetration.

On Wednesday 10 August 2022, officers received a 999 call from the victim at 12:45am who said she had been sexually assaulted.

The victim asked Mughal, who was working as a security guard, for directions to Manchester city centre after their tram had terminated earlier than expected.

Mughal allowed the victim to use the toilet before sexually assaulting her in his security booth.

The victim managed to flee the scene and call the police, remaining hidden until an officer could locate them.

Detective Constable Luke Miller, of our Serious Crime Division, said:

“I would like to thank the victim for reporting this terrible incident to the police and allowing us to conduct a thorough investigation.

“Mughal abused his position of authority to sexually assault a woman who had asked him for help. Mughal claimed that the victim was advancing onto them whilst in the security booth and that he did not want to have any sexual activity with the victim, which was completely untrue.

“I commend the victim in this case for supporting our investigation, which has resulted in today’s sentence and sees justice served against Mughal, who will now spend a significant amount of time behind bars.

“Our officers will provide support, conduct thorough investigations, and take firm action against offenders. Your allegations will be taken seriously, and you will be treated with dignity and respect."

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Two people have been sentenced for modern slavery offences after women were trafficked from Romania to the UK to work as sex workers in West Yorkshire.

Costel Tambac and Mariana Iova were jailed today after being found guilty by a jury following a trial in July.

The pair, both Romanian nationals, were found to be responsible for controlling the lives of two female victims who were trafficked to the UK from Romania.

Both victims were told they were coming to the UK to work as agency workers in a meat factory.

But in reality, they were “sold” to Tambac and Iova who made them work as sex workers at brothels in the Harehills and Holbeck areas of Leeds, as well as in Dewsbury, Oldham and Nottingham.

The pair seized the money earnt by the victims, leaving them with as little as £10 a day to themselves.

Officers from West Yorkshire Police’s Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking team began the investigation in 2016 when one of the victims came forward.

She reported to police that she had been trafficked to the UK where she was ‘sold’ to Tambac and Iova. From then on, she was forced to work for them and sexually exploited.

The pair advertised their victims’ services on adult services websites, taking them to agreed locations to provide sexual services when requested.

They controlled their victims by retaining their ID documents and money as well as controlling their lifestyle. They enforced this control by using violence and threats.

Tambac and Iova were each found guilty of two counts of sexual exploitation of a female victim contrary to the Modern Slavery Act 2015, and two counts of controlling prostitution for gain contrary to Section 53 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

Appearing before Leeds Crown Court for sentencing today, Tambac, aged 50, formerly of Moorhey Street, Oldham, Greater Manchester was sentenced to nine years.

Iova, aged 35, also formerly of Moorhey Street, Oldham, was sentenced to eight years.

In 2018, Tambac and Iova fled the UK while they were still under investigation. Officers sought international arrest warrants, and the pair were traced to Amsterdam where they were arrested earlier this year and extradited back to the UK.

Speaking outside the court, Senior Investigating Officer Detective Superintendent Helen Steele, said:

“First and foremost, my thoughts go out to the victims who suffered an horrendous ordeal.

“They were brought over to the UK under false pretences by organised criminals where they were sold as a commodity to be financially and sexually exploited through controlled prostitution.

“I hope the guilty verdicts together with the sentences handed down today will bring them some comfort as they continue with the process of rebuilding their lives.”

“I would also like to thank them for their bravery, their patience and their resilience as we pursued our investigation.

“Our investigation was complex and began nine years ago when one of the victims came forward.

“It was the first ever investigation for West Yorkshire Police to conduct as a Joint Investigation Team with the Romanian authorities, who I would also like to thank as it meant we could maximise all investigational opportunities.

“The Joint Investigation Team also led to the Romanian authorities convicting the people responsible for trafficking the victims to the UK.

“A successful prosecution would not have been possible without the assistance of colleagues in Romania.”

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A man has been jailed for committing a sex act in front of a child in a restaurant toilet.

Registered sex offender Christopher Taylor (pictured) was only allowed to use a public toilet if he was in a cubicle designed for individual use – a condition of a sexual harm prevention order.

But in June this year, Taylor, 46, stood next to the urinals at McDonalds in Rawtenstall and carried out a sex act in full view of a young boy who was washing his hands after using the toilet.

The boy, aged 11, was left upset and told his mum that ‘something’s happened in the bathroom that’s really weird’.

An investigation was launched and CCTV footage of Taylor’s car helped trace him to Manchester where he was arrested a few days later.

Taylor, formerly of Tenterden Walk, Wythenshaw, Manchester, appeared at Preston Crown Court for sentencing today (7th November).

He had pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child under the age of 13, and to breach of a sexual harm prevention order.

Taylor was given an extended sentence of eight years in prison.

Det Con Adam Rainsbury of Burnley CID, said:

“This was disgusting behaviour by Taylor in front of a young boy who was using the toilets in McDonalds.

“Taylor is registered sex offender who had conditions place on him as part of a sexual harm prevention order.

“I welcome the prison sentence imposed on him and it shows that such behaviour will not be tolerated.”

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A man has been jailed after he was convicted of raping a woman at a restaurant in Frodsham.

Abdul Helim was sentenced to six years in prison at Chester Crown Court on Friday 7 November.

The 50-year-old, of Grange Avenue, Oldham, was earlier found guilty of rape and possession of indecent images of children following an three day trial.

The court heard how the victim met Helim at the India Garden Restaurant in Frodsham.

The pair formed a sexual relationship together and would meet at the restaurant.

However, in late 2022, Helim asked the victim to do something which she did not consent to. Despite her refusal, he went on to rape the woman.

The incident was later reported to police and In October 2023, after the launch of the investigation, Helim was arrested in relation to the allegations. During questioning he denied having a relationship with the woman, he claimed that they were just friends and had never had sex.

However, officers examined mobile phone data and recovered a catalogue of messages between the pair, which made clear, repeat reference to their relationship.

In addition, officers also discovered that Helim had possessed a number of indecent images of children.

Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Hannah Lamborn, who led the investigation, said:

“Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the bravery of the victim in this case who not only had the courage to report and speak about what had happened to her but also had to endure the stress of a trial and facing the defendant in the court room. I would also like to acknowledge the victim’s family and friends who supported her throughout the investigation and the court process.

“I hope that the sentence handed to Helim will provide them with some closure, knowing that he is now behind bars where he cannot do this to anyone else.

“Helim is clearly a danger to women, he was aware that the victim did not consent, but he chose to continue anyway to fulfil his own sexual desires.

“Throughout the investigation, and the subsequent trial, Helim has attempted to deny the offence put to him. Thankfully, the jury saw through his lies, and he is now facing the consequences of his actions.

“If anyone wishes to report a sexual offence, you can do so by calling us on 101, or please visit our website where you can find all the details you need to report it online.”