Search results for Manchester

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Michael John Worton (b. 30/12/1951) of Moss Colliery Road, Swinton, has been sentenced to three years in prison and three further years on license after being found guilty by jury of 16 offences at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on Tuesday 4 November 2025. He has also been placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

The conviction follows disclosures from five courageous victim-survivors who came forward to report abuse they experienced as children during the 1970s and 1980s, when Worton worked on a farm and in a children’s home.

These men have carried the trauma of their experiences into adulthood and have shown immense bravery in helping bring Worton to justice.

The investigation revealed that Worton abused his position of trust to target vulnerable children in settings where they should have felt safe. We are also reviewing previous related investigations to ensure all non-recent offences are fully identified and addressed.

At his court appearance, Worton denied all charges and went to trial. He showed no remorse in court throughout the course of the two weeks and was subsequently found guilty by jury of the following 16 offences: five counts of indecent assault, three counts of indecency with a child, and eight counts of indecent assault on a male person.

We believe that there are other victims that were sexually abused by Worton, and officers are appealing for anyone who may have been subjected to sexual abuse by him, or who may have any information, to please come forward and help us with our enquiries. 

Detective Constable Nathan Roscoe, from GMP Salford district, said:

“It’s with thanks to the great bravery of these victim-survivors in coming forward and disclosing the abuse they were subjected to that we have been able to bring this despicable man to some long-awaited justice.

“Worton preyed on vulnerable young children while he worked in positions of trust in the local community. He should be ashamed of himself, and that shame lies solely with him.”

Chief Superintendent Neil Blackwood, district commander for Salford, said:

“I pay tribute to the victims in this case for their courage to ensure Worton is finally behind bars.

“We believe there may be further witnesses and victims in relation to this investigation and want to take this opportunity to appeal for them to please come forward.  

“Whether it be abuse against the children of today or yesterday, our specialist officers are determined to make child sexual abusers ultimately face justice for the harm they have inflicted.

“You will be believed no matter the passage of time, and we will listen to you and work with you at a pace that is best for you. We have specialist officers who can support you and help you through the process.”

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Kevin Wyatt (25/05/1984), no fixed address, subjected the woman to two brutal attacks in Clayton, Manchester in June this year.

Wyatt was jailed for life at Manchester Crown Court on Tuesday 4 November 2025 and will serve a minimum of 12 years and six months, after pleading to rape, robbery, false imprisonment and threatening with a bladed article.

Wyatt had been at the woman’s house carrying out odd jobs when he carried out his horrific attacks.

He also made his victim withdraw £120 from a cashpoint so he could get a taxi home to Middleton.

Wyatt was arrested on suspicion of attempted theft by a neighbouring force however provided false details. Once in custody, his real details were established, and he was swiftly taken into custody by GMP.

Detective Constable Lucy Holland, of City of Manchester CID, said:

“This was an horrific crime where Wyatt has abused the trust of a vulnerable woman who invited him into her home.

“Wyatt is a dangerous man who is rightly now serving a long prison sentence.

“I want to take this opportunity to praise the victim - her bravery in reporting the incident and providing information to officers showed true courage.

“She has been supported by our officers throughout the case and will continue to be following his sentence.

“We know how difficult speaking out about sexual abuse can be however our officers will support you, investigate, and act robustly against perpetrators. We will take your allegations seriously and treat you with dignity and respect.”

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DNA obtained by police nearly 20 years ago has led to a former taxi driver being jailed for 12 years for rape.

Mahbubur Rahman has been brought to justice after his DNA was found to match that of a previously unidentified sample collected at the time of the offence in 2006 – against a then 19-year-old woman.

The connection was made in 2022 after Rahman was arrested for an unrelated matter. Despite the compelling evidence, he continued to deny the offence.

Today (Wednesday 29 October), the-now 50-year-old, of Jane Street, Chadderton, Greater Manchester, was sentenced following a trial at Leicester Crown Court last month.

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Two cousins have been found guilty of grooming and raping five teenage girls in an 'appalling' case of historic abuse from the late 1990s.

Manzorr Hussain, 54, and Imtiaz Ali, 53, abused the victimsoften from troubled backgroundsafter providing them with drink and drugs. The crimes occurred mainly in Bury, but also across Greater Manchester and in Wales, including in houses, hotels, cars, and vans.

Following a four-week trial at Minshull Street Crown Court, the pair were convicted and will be sentenced in December.

A third man, Hussain's brother Ghulam Hussain, 64, was charged with multiple sexual offences but fled the country; jurors were told not to decide his guilt.

Prosecutor Anna Pope opened the case: "It is a case about five teenage girls, who we say were groomed and sexually abused by three men. We say this took place in the late 1990s.

"We say that these sexual offences took place in houses, a hotel, sometimes in a car or a van. A number of the girls, we say, were particularly vulnerable.

"They had troubled backgrounds. The prosecution says that older men took advantage of their personal situations and groomed them with drink, drugs, lifts in a car and a place to spend time, as well as company.

"In reality, we say that this was part of a grooming process and the girls were made to feel like in return they owed something to these men. When sexual activity began and took place between these young teenage girls and much older men, we say that they weren't truly consenting to any of this."

Ms Pope described Ghulam Hussain as the 'main man' who abused girls and 'passed them around' to others, including his brother and cousin. The trio ran market stalls. 'Parties' at an address linked to Ali involved drugs, alcohol, and expected sexual services. One victim, raped by both men, was threatened with being left on the moors without clothes.

Prosecutors said Hussain took one victim to a flat with a dirty mattress, where she was abused by strangers sequentially. The case began when one victim reported her ordeal, leading police to contact the others.

Hussain, of Manchester Road, Bury, was convicted of seven counts of rape and seven counts of indecent assault. Ali, of Ainsworth Road, Radcliffe, Bury, was found guilty of five counts of rape, five counts of indecent assault, and one count of attempted indecent assault.

Claire Brinton, specialist prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, said:

"Manzorr Hussain and Imtiaz Ali exploited five vulnerable teenage girls, grooming them with alcohol and drugs before subjecting them to appalling sexual abuse.

The defendants deliberately targeted children they knew they could exploit and treated them as objects to be passed around for their own and others sexual gratification. They showed a callous disregard for the girls welfare and used manipulation, force, threats and fear to control them and make them comply with their sick demands.

"These women have demonstrated remarkable bravery in coming forward, remaining engaged with the legal process, and reliving deeply traumatic experiences from over two decades ago. I would like to thank all of them; I hope these convictions can bring them some comfort.

"Our Organised Child Sexual Abuse Unit, in collaboration with Greater Manchester Police, was able to use extensive evidence to build a comprehensive picture of the offending to present to a jury who found the defendants guilty and delivered the justice these women deserved.

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A man has been sentenced following a detailed investigation from our dedicated Criminal Investigation Department into four years’ worth of offences.

Mobarak Almutairi (30/05/2006) of Whitworth Street West, Manchester was sentenced to three years and eight months at Manchester Crown Court on Thursday 16 September. Almutairi pleaded guilty to 20 counts of sexual offences, including sexual assault, outraging public decency and indecent image offences.

Earlier this year, in February 2025, Almutairi was arrested after he followed three young girls into a shop on Market Street where he inappropriately touched and sexually assaulted one of them.

Following this report, our officers were able to track Almutairi down using CCTV footage, arrest him and seized his electronic devices. Officers discovered not only a recording the offender took of the above offence, but thousands of indecent images of children made predominantly by Almutairi. Just under 4,000 indecent images were recovered from his devices, unveiling a history of sexual abuse against children both within and outside of the UK.

Our dedicated officers carefully sifted through this evidence to identify each of the children, some as young as eight-years-old, and ensure each of them and their families received protection and support.

In addition to his sentencing, Almutairi now has a lifetime order on the sex offender’s register list and has been issued with a sexual harm prevention order.

Detective Constable Emily Morton, of our Criminal Investigation Department said:

“Child protection is our utmost priority, and ensuring the victims identified in this case were fully supported was the first and most important task under this investigation.

“The level of offending and disregard for these children shows just how dangerous an offender Almutairi, and the streets are much safer with him in prison.

“We investigate all reports of sexual assault thoroughly and work relentlessly to bring perpetrators to justice, while providing the right care and support for all victims and survivors of these crimes.”

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A stalker "effectively blackmailed" and sexually assaulted a woman from Bolton over seven months.

Paul Keevil, 56, of Fairman Drive, Hindley, harassed the victim by sending "thousands" of social media messages, emails, and letters to her and her family. He drove past her home, parked outside, and followed her.

Keevil falsely threatened to tell her family and employer she was a sex worker—risking her job—unless she entered an intimate relationship with him.

During the period, Keevil sexually assaulted her in his car after driving to a car park and making unwanted advances. She "made her feelings clear," but he told her to "trust him," saying he was "just being romantic." The victim later recalled "focusing on the street lamp, waiting for it to be over."

In June 2022, Keevil tailgated her car, "getting right up behind" and "making his presence known." She evaded him via detours to Sainsbury's and Morrisons in Bolton, alerting staff at the latter. She soon reported him to police, leading to his arrest.

At Bolton Crown Court on October 8, prosecutor Tom Farr described Keevil's "relentless" pursuit, including post deliveries, emails, Instagram and WhatsApp messages, and "conventional stalking behaviour" like following her. Keevil admitted spying and stalking, saying he "wouldn't need to do so if she spent time with him." One drive was her "deliberate move to keep him away from her house," though "she did not want to do it."

The victim's impact statement revealed Keevil's actions "made her suicidal," caused her to lose a baby due to stress, and left her "scared" he might "rape or kill" her. She felt "I couldn't have a life anymore, he always seemed to know what I was doing and where I was going."

Keevil, with no prior convictions, pleaded guilty to sexual assault and stalking.

Defense lawyer Louise Cowen said he was "deeply sorry" for the "hurt and distress," and "did not fully appreciate" his actions. Diagnosed with autism, which she argued reduced his culpability and would make custody "deep and significant" for him, Keevil also cares for his wife, whom imprisonment would adversely affect.

Recorder Jeremy Lasker noted Keevil "literally bombarded her" with messages, "repeatedly stalked her at her own home," and "constantly refused to take no for an answer." Despite acknowledging impacts on her, "you were effectively blackmailing her by suggesting your conduct was not necessary if she would only submit to your demands."

Acknowledging Keevil's autism and its effects on his wife, Lasker said neither could "deflect from immediate custody." He sentenced Keevil to 28 months' imprisonment and 10 years on the sex offenders' register.

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Today, 25 September 2025, at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court, Matthew Webb (21/09/1991) of Wythenshawe has been handed a 28-year jail sentence for several sexual offences against a child, including rape. 

Webb has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely. 

On Sunday 28 July 2024, the offences came to light after the brave victim disclosed that she had been raped by an adult man, and reported it to the police with support from a family member.  

An investigation was immediately launched and the victim agreed to be interviewed where, supported by officers, she bravely disclosed further abuse she had been subjected to by Webb between the ages of 11-15. 

On several occasions, Webb vaginally raped, and sexually assaulted her.  

On 28 July 2024, Webb was arrested on suspicion of rape of a female under 16. On 4 August 2024, he was further arrested on suspicion of the same offence based on new evidence obtained. 

During his interviews, he was uncooperative and answered "no comment" to all questions. 

Webb was charged with sexual offences against a child. He denied all charges and pleaded not guilty at his hearing. Throughout the investigation and his trial, he showed no remorse. 

Following a week-long trial at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court, Webb was found guilty by jury on one count of rape of a girl under the age of 13, one count of rape of a girl under 16 on no fewer than five occasions, three counts of rape of a girl under the age of 16, two counts of sexual assault of a girl under the age of 13 by touching, and three counts of making indecent images of a child. 

He was sentenced to 28 years in prison. 

Investigating officer, DC Blackburn from South Manchester’s Child Protection unit, said:

“Firstly, I’d like to thank the victim for her courageous decision to report the abuse to police.  

“Webb is a disgusting predator who though he could use a child for his own gratification with total disregard. 

“I hope this sentence brings the victim a sense of justice and allows her to move on as she rebuilds her life. 

“I’d like to take this opportunity to reach out to victims of child sexual abuse and let them know that they are not alone.  

“We are here and will listen to you when you are ready. We have specialist officers who can support you and work with you at a pace that is comfortable for you.  

“If you are not ready to speak to police, there are several services available for you to speak to in confidence.”

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Today (Friday 19 September 2025), one of the most prolific child sexual predators even seen in the North West has been jailed for 14 years following investigations by Greater Manchester Police and Lancashire Police.

Stuart Latham, 22, from Wigan has been sentenced at Preston Crown Court to 49 offences including rape, sexual activity with a child, blackmail, sexual communication with children, inciting children to engage in sexual activity, and the creation, possession and distribution of indecent images, against 41 victims between the ages of 11 and 15, spanning the whole of the UK.

In 2023, Lancashire Police received a report that Latham, who was from Greater Manchester, had raped a girl in Heysham, who was aged 12 at the time of the offences.

He had met the girl on the social media app ‘Swiper’, where he had told her he was 15, despite being an adult. The girl had told him her age over messages.

Latham was arrested on suspicion of rape and a joint investigation with Greater Manchester Police later commenced.

Latham was arrested by GMP in April 2024, whilst on bail for the offences in Lancashire, following a referral made by US authorities via the National Crime Agency that a local man was having sexualised chat with children on Snapchat.

When officers arrived at his home address that very same day, Latham tried to conceal his mobile by throwing it to the back of his wardrobe. After our digital forensic experts were able to download and analyse this device, it was clear why he was keen to evade its discovery.

Despite denying all allegations in interview, his mobile revealed that he had ‘catfished’ a large number of young girls on Snapchat under the name ‘Josh’, posing as a 14-year-old boy. He would send mass messages to up to 200 girls at a time on the platform, initially asking for their help but not specifying what with, only to go onto request sexualised images and videos, sometimes offering cash and giftcards in return.

He would send them fake pictures, taken from the internet, to keep up this identity of being a teenager himself, and never paid any of the victims.

Once he had successfully lured the victims in, he would continue to demand more and more images, blackmailing them with threats to leak them or tell their parents, and exploiting their vulnerabilities if they didn’t send any. He would also send explicit videos and images of himself in response to what they had shared with him.

The chats with these children showed no care about their age or wellbeing, and were extremely explicit, graphic, and distressing in nature. He showed no remorse or accountability in any of his police interviews.

We were able to find Latham had spoken to 48 victims, bringing charges against him in 41 of those cases. Of the 41, eight of the children remain unidentified, but the rest we have been able to speak with and safeguard from further harm. That support will continue beyond today’s result.

Whilst we uncovered over 4,000 indecent images on Latham’s devices, we know that some data which had been deleted from his device before his initial arrest in Lancashire couldn’t be recovered, so the full scale of his offending could be much greater.

Detective Constable Emma Murtagh, from GMP’s Online Child Abuse Investigation Team, and who led this case, said:

“This is one of the most horrific cases I have ever had to investigate, not only due to the scale of the offending, but also due to the devastating impact and harm this this man’s behaviour and actions have had on these young girls and their families.

“We worked incredibly hard to identify as many victims as possible, listen to them, safeguard them and support them through this terrible ordeal. That has been our priority throughout and the victims living in very different locations has not been a barrier to this investigation.

“The impact has also been felt by all their parents and guardians, who understandably were very shocked and distressed to hear about what had been happening.

“This case demonstrates unfortunately the ease of which those looking to exploit children can target, manipulate and blackmail them online. 

“We encourage anyone who may find them in a situation like these young people to come forward to police. We are steadfast in our pursuit of holding child predators to account and protecting children, and will act on any information we receive.”

Detective Chief Inspector Dylan Hrynkow, of West Rape and Serious Sexual offences team said:

“This investigation was complex with cross border offending, due to excellent joint working we have been able to secure charges and  convictions for these horrendous offences.”

“This crime has understandably had a profound impact on the victim, who has shown incredible strength and bravery over a significant amount of time, throughout proceedings. I can only hope that the knowledge of Latham’s significant sentence will bring  some sense of closure in knowing he has been brought to justice.

“If you have been a victim of any sexual offending in Lancashire, I want you to know that we will listen to you, we will appropriately investigate, and we will do all we can to get you justice.”

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A man who took a 15-year-old girl to his home after meeting her in a town centre has been jailed for 11 years for rape and causing a child to engage in sexual activity. 

Rasseika Duncan (04/11/1984), of no fixed abode, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Square Court yesterday (Thursday 18 September) after previously being found guilty in June this year.

The court heard how on Saturday 1 October 2022, Duncan was in Hyde when he stopped a girl who was walking through the area, at around 8pm.

After a brief conversation, Duncan convinced the girl to go back to his address in the Stalybridge area. On the way, he bought a quantity of cannabis.

Once back at the address, he locked the door of the room, forcing himself on her and continuing his assault despite the girl attempting to stop him.

As a friend of the girl had previously reported seeing her with Duncan and raised her concerns, her phone was traced, with officers turning up to the address and arresting him later that evening.

Following a comprehensive investigation by GMP’s Tameside Child Sexual Exploitation team, Duncan was charged with the offences.

In addition to his sentencing, he has received an indefinite sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) and restraining order.

Detective Sergeant Michelle Davies, from GMP’s Tameside district, said:

“Duncan exploited a vulnerable young girl and took advantage of her, in what was a terrifying situation.

“I would like to thank the victim in this case for the immense bravery and courage she has shown throughout both the investigation and the trial.

“I hope today’s sentencing can provide some comfort to her, as she continues to rebuild her life following this awful ordeal.”

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A convicted rapist issued threats to a court before being handed a fourth life sentence for attempting to stab a prison officer's neck.

David O’Brien, 47, already serving three life sentences for attempting to murder inmates, appeared via videolink at Manchester Crown Court for the October 2022 attack at HMP Manchester.

He previously admitted attempting to murder inmate Danny Fitzsimons by attacking him with a metal bar in the gym at Ashworth Hospital.

He also admitted attacking inmate Peter Harris by approaching from behind and "slicing his neck" with an improvised knife made from a toothbrush and razor blade.

In another incident, after meeting inmate Dean Rawlinson the previous day, O’Brien asked for a cigarette, led him to a shower block, charged at him with a weapon from his waistband, and inflicted a 12cm laceration to his left cheek requiring surgery.

Prosecutor Virginia Hayton described preexisting tensions with the officer. On October 3, 2022, O’Brien went out of camera sight in the kitchen, armed himself with a sharp improvised weapon from cutlery, then struck the officer's neck as they left. He admitted aiming for the neck, but the injury was minor.

Interrupting, O’Brien said: “Are they [the victim] not waiting for me to get f***ing slammed by the judge?” He added: “I never used a weapon on a screw ever. When you’ve got screws been in the business two years, juiced out on steroids, bringing in mobile phones for me. Trying to get me kicked off the wing, assaulting me. There were five or six waiting for me.”

In a victim impact statement, the officer said the attack had a “profound effect,” causing fear, anxiety, flashbacks, nightmares, night terrors, irritability, withdrawal, and strained relationships. “I used to be outgoing, now I only leave the house to attend work or if I’m prompted by my partner to engage in daily things.”

Ms. Hayton noted O’Brien’s “extensive and serious” record: nine years for two rapes, 49 months in 2015 for robbery, and life sentences for attempted murder in April 2017, December 2017, and January 2023.

Interrupting, O’Brien said: “Read them all out - I want to hear them all. If you’re going to read all my convictions, read them all." Later: “Get f***ing on with it, I am getting bored of it and I need a s**t. What’s the f***ing point in another life sentence when I’m already doing three. I should be on the streets, when there’s terrorists out there blowing our kids up. Sentence me, I’m getting bored. Next time you sentence me it’s going to be for something else. Hurry up. Taking three years to bring this to court and then three hours to sentence me.”

Defence barrister Matthew O’Neill said O’Brien, diagnosed with personality disorder, offered no personal mitigation. “The injury caused was not significant. He is currently serving three separate life sentences and the facts relating to this offence may not warrant life imprisonment.”

O’Brien interrupted: “I really don’t care - you know if you want to life me off, I don’t care. Before you do sentence me, I will be back, and it will get worse. On my mother’s life. Do what you are doing, making it f***ing worth it. Hope every one of them dies of f***ing cancer. I hope one of my people catches up with you, the CPS, judges. For the f***ing lies, giving me 25 years. Can’t do convictions properly, reading just the worst ones out. Your court is f***ing me over and f***ing me over. Vengeance will be sweeter. Give me a life sentence judge, I’m not getting out any time. It’s destroyed my life. Splashed all over the M.E.N. You’ve got people doing worse for murder and whatever else.”

Judge Nicholas Dean KC muted O’Brien’s microphone. He said O’Brien was convicted of attempting grievous bodily harm, claiming it was revenge over a betrayed prison deal. “During the course of the trial he displayed highly volatile behaviour as he has today in the course of this sentencing hearing. Mr O’Brien has expressed threats during this hearing, and so I am satisfied that he is classed as a dangerous offender. I am satisfied there is a significant risk of him committing further offences and a significant risk of causing serious harm. I am sure there is a risk it will likely carry on in the future.”

O’Brien received a life sentence with a minimum four-and-a-half-year term before Parole Board consideration. The judge requested the hearing record, including threats, be sent to the prison for future release evaluations.

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A man who groomed and sexually abused a vulnerable young girl over a prolonged period has been sentenced to sixteen-and-a-half-years in prison today (Friday, 5 September 2025) at Manchester Crown Court following a complex investigation.

Junedh Ahmed (11/6/1999) of Shield Close, Oldham Manchester was found guilty of 14 offences including rape of a child under the age of 13, taking incident photographs of a child, and causing a child to engage in sexual activity following a three-week trial, which concluded on 26th July 2025 with Ahmed being remanded into custody.

Ahmed must sign the sex offender registry for life and will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 20 years. He is also subject to an indefinite restraining order.

Our investigation into Ahmed began when the victim bravely disclosed the abuse to officers at Central Park Police Station. Detectives from our complex safeguarding team launched a detailed investigation, which uncovered a disturbing pattern of grooming, coercion, and sexual violence.

As part of sentencing proceedings, the girl bravely prepared a personal impact statement which was read aloud the court and included these words:

“Jay Ahmed made me lose pieces of my childhood I can never get back.

“There were times I felt like I was drowning in silence — too scared to speak, too ashamed to ask for help.

She continued to say: “It’s taken a lot of strength just to speak these words. But I’m speaking to them because I need the court — and the world — to understand what this kind of harm does.”

Her mother also provided an impact statement, which read:

“I have watched my daughter battle pain and confusion no child should ever know.

As her mother, I have fought every day to remind her she is not broken; she is strong, she is loved, and this was never her fault.

Jay Ahmed betrayed our trust, damaged a young girl's life, and many other young girls and shook our family to the core.”

A second girl was also identified as a victim in the case and in relation to her, Ahmed was found guilty of inciting a child under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity.

Investigators conducted a thorough digital analysis reviewing social media data, search history, and mobile phone downloads to build a strong evidential package.

This investigative work was conducted despite Ahmed refusing to provide the PIN code for his mobile phones. As such, he was convicted of a criminal offence under section 53 of RIPA for failing to comply with our investigation by preventing police from reviewing the data contained on his devices.

Through our investigation, we determined that offences took place between December 2020 and February 2022, during which time Ahmed gained the trust of the victim’s family and used his position to obtain unsupervised access to the child.

Ahmed proceeded to groom the girl with gifts, alcohol, and emotional manipulation, before subjecting her to repeated sexual abuse and recorded several instances on his mobile device.

Ahmed was arrested in February 2022 and again in August 2022. Cowardly, he gave no comment in both police interviews and pleaded not guilty to the charges he faced.

After a jury was presented with a package of evidence, they found Ahmed guilty

Detective Constable Emma Davidson, who led the investigation, said:

“Ahmed led a calculated and sustained campaign of abuse against a young girl. The courage she has shown — not only in coming forward to report what happened, but in going through the difficult process of a trial — has been extraordinary.

“Her strength has helped bring a dangerous offender to justice, and we hope this outcome brings her some measure of healing.

“Our complex safeguarding team was pivotal throughout this case and built strong relationships with the victims and their families throughout the investigation, as well as provided access to tailored support.

“Having co-located multiagency teams are central to our proactive approach to protecting children and preventing further harm.”

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A man has been jailed for counts of rape, assault, and controlling and coercive behaviour following investigations by our detectives in the Criminal Investigation Department.  

Two women courageously came forward to report instances of rape, physical violence and controlling behaviour that they endured at the hands of this man. The perpetrator was physically aggressive and forceful over a long period of time with the one victim and caused significant psychological damage.   

Luke Cartwright (09/12/2002) of Balmoral Drive, Denton, has been sentenced after a trial at Bolton Crown Court to 15 years for seven sexual offences, including rape and coercive control against two women. He was initially arrested in February 2024 after reports were made that he abused and sexually assaulted a woman on multiple occasions from May 2022 to 2023.  

The victim bravely gave testimony in court about two separate incidents in which the perpetrator raped her in her sleep, and another where he forced himself on her, abused her and physically pinned her to the bed and wardrobe.  

Whilst enduring both physical and verbal abuse, the victim also recounts times at which Cartwright behaved in a controlling manner, such as checking through her phone every night, constantly checking her whereabouts, and hitting her in retaliation during arguments regarding his behaviour.  

In July 2024, a second woman came forward against the same perpetrator, reporting that Cartwright had raped her in her friend’s bedroom where she was staying to help with childcare. Her friend’s partner had let Cartwright into the house and the two men spent the night drinking. They later went upstairs to sleep, and Cartwright found the victim.  

She slept on a mattress beside her friends’ bed, along with their son, where Cartwright, who was heavily intoxicated, lay with her, forcefully assaulted her and raped her. Upon telling her friends what he had done, officers were called and arrested him at the scene, and CSI were able to forensically recover the mattress for further evidence.   

In November 2024, Cartwright was charged with two counts of rape and a single count of assault by penetration. 

The bravery and resilience of these women meant our dedicated detectives could ensure both victims were safeguarded from further abuse and had access to the systems available to get them the support they need.  

Both victims shared their experiences through victim impact statements, which were read to the court upon sentencing, outlining the abuse and trauma they suffered. Parts of each statement is below and demonstrates the long-lasting impact coercive control and domestic abuse can have.  

Person 1:  

“The anxiety that I would feel about how he would treat me frequently caused me to physically throw up. […] 

I know that I am not to blame, but I am still so frustrated with myself for letting him treat me like this. I don’t know how could I just freeze when he hit me or accept it when he tried to control me. When I think of that, I feel like I was so weak and there is real shame that I am still trying to work through.” 

Person 2: 

“When I would finally get to sleep, I would be constantly woken up by what happened. It was not a nightmare as such, but it was like I kept going back to that day. It kept replaying in my head, like I was there again. […]  

The main feeling, I have is anger. I am angry it happened. I am angry with myself that I feel I didn’t do enough to stop it. I know I said no and I pushed him off, however, I was still trying to be nice because I was scared. I sometimes blame myself for what happened to me, which also makes me feel angry.” 

Detective Superintendent Jen Tattersall, GMP’s lead for domestic abuse, said:

“Controlling and coercive behaviour is a massive priority for GMP along with all types of violence against women and girls which includes rape.  

"This case shows a really good investigation which highlights the complexities of that type of investigation and shows how much we take priority around our response to domestic abuse.  

"Cartwright is a dangerous offender. This conviction and sentencing is a fantastic result and demonstrates GMP’s dedication towards DA. We've invested in it, created dedicated DA teams, and we are prioritising it to raise the solved outcome rate for victims of controlling and coercive behaviour. 

"Controlling and coercive behaviour (CCB) can creep up on people, they think they are in a healthy relationship, and it slowly transforms into CCB, which makes it a challenge for victims to come forward and for policing, so GMP are trying to drive forward our overall response to domestic abuse and CCB.” 

Description

A sex offender has been jailed for offences against children that took place almost 20 years apart.

Christopher Atherton (02/07/1978), of Milnthorpe Way, Manchester, was jailed for 13 years at Manchester Minshull Street Court this week (1/9/25) following an earlier trial.

His offences against two girls in the Trafford area dated back to the early 2000s.

He was found guilty of sexual assault of a child under 13 and causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity relating to an incident in 2019.

Atherton was also found guilty of three charges – two of indecent assault and sexual assault - dating back to between 2001 and 2004 when his female victim was aged under 16.

Detective Constable Steve Matthias, of our Trafford Child Protection Unit, said:

“Atherton put his victims through two ordeals, firstly by carrying out this horrific abuse and then compounding that by denying his criminality and making them testify at his trial.

“The judge deemed him to be a significant risk of causing serious harm in the future and a danger to girls, and ordered that he remains on Sex Offender Register for life.

“I would like to commend the victims for coming forward to report his crimes and for giving evidence at his trial – that cannot have been easy.

“We want to reassure all victims and survivors that they will be supported regardless of how long has passed since the abuse took place and we will investigate all allegations.”

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A 44-year-old data analyst, Karl Grocott, sent an image of Simpsons character Mr. Burns to "indicate his evil plan was working" before attempting to meet a "12-year-old boy" at Edge Lane McDonald's in Liverpool.

He boasted to the boy, "Kade," that he was a 27-year-old STEM teacher who "liked to kiss boys' bodies," but was actually communicating with undercover police.

Prosecutor Christopher Taylor told Liverpool Crown Court that Grocott had two conversations: one with "Kade" and one with adult "John," to whom he claimed abusing boys at parties and shopping centers, sending the Mr. Burns image as a "suggestion his evil plan was working."

After weeks of communication, Grocott arranged to meet "Kade" on May 10, 2024, planning sexual activity in a hotel room. Police arrested him nearby, seizing two Motorola phones; a hotel search found a condom, lubricant, and chocolate.

Grocott believed "Kade" was 12, claimed prior abuse of a pupil in Blackpool, sent naked torso images and sexual emojis, and promised "fun for hours" with "no pressure" for sex.

With five prior convictions for nine offenses, including making indecent images of children and breaching a sexual harm prevention order (from Manchester Minshull Street Court, 2018-2024), Grocott pleaded guilty to attempting to meet a child under 16 following grooming and attempted sexual communication with a child.

Defender David Birrell noted no sexual images were exchanged (only sent by Grocott) and cited the defendant's mental health issues or learning difficulties, adding: "I think it is commonly known that those with traits of autism can excel in certain areas." He highlighted Grocott's data analyst role, earnings, and prison progress on courses.

Sentencing, Judge Neil Flewitt KC said: "There was no real child. The people you were communicating with were two undercover police officers. There was no child available to meet you but you didn't know that or desist from the offences.

"You went online communicating with another adult expressing an interest in young boys. You then began to engage in sexualised chat with a boy you believed to be 12. It went on over a period of time. It did not end there because you agreed to meet a person you believed to be a 12-year-old boy.

"What you had in mind was penetrative sexual activity with a boy aged 12 which would have been rape of a child under the age of 13. It was only the intervention of the police that brought it to a conclusion."

"You must have known what you were doing was quite wrong."

Grocott, of Hurst Avenue in Sale, received 27 months for the two offenses, plus a consecutive six months for breaching his prior order. He faces indefinite sexual harm prevention order and Sexual Offences Act notifications.

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A drunken passenger on a Jet2 flight from Manchester to Tenerife made lewd advances towards a woman sat next to him, asking her: "Are you going to f*** me then?"

Craig Lowe, 53, had consumed six small bottles of red wine during the four-and-a-half-hour flight on November 12, 2023. After some light-hearted 'banter', Lowe began making crude sexual remarks towards the woman, suggesting: "Would you come back to my hotel room so I can f*** you?" He then groped her inner thigh, according to what was heard in Manchester Crown Court.

Lowe, from Wigan, repeated his inappropriate question before the woman excused herself to use the toilet to escape his advances. Upon her return, she covered her lap with her hoodie.

However, Lowe proceeded to touch her thigh twice more, causing her to freeze before finally telling him to 'stop', which he eventually did.

Lowe also verbally assaulted another passenger who attempted to assist him after he dropped his phone, threatening him with: "I'm going to kill you... go on... I'll have you outside", as reported in court. His disruptive behaviour persisted even after they disembarked the plane and boarded the bus to the terminal, with the other passenger's wife pleading loudly: "Can someone get this man away from us."

In a personal victim statement read out in court by prosecutor Amy Weir, the woman expressed her distress, stating: "This journey was supposed to be a relaxing trip away with my family after ten sets of shifts. I am now anxious to travel and I'll never sit on my own again."

The woman said she was a nervous flier, and the incident made her feel worse.

She continued: "There was no CCTV on board which makes me more apprehensive about travelling - it means there is nowhere to go.

"I'm just grateful that this occurred towards the end of a four hour flight."

Jason Smith, defending, said his client was battling alcoholism at the time, which 'destroyed his life' and 'ended his marriage'.

"In a bid to reinvent himself and take a holiday, he continued drinking at the airport and acted in a completely disgraceful way," he said.

"He has no excuse."

Mr Smith said Lowe had since 'turned his life around' and given up alcohol, reports the Manchester Evening News. During sentencing, Judge Timothy Smith said: "She described that for the majority of the flight there was nothing untoward about your behaviour - you were 'fun'. That came to an end towards the end of the flight.

"This court sees too often examples of people who misbehave and drink to excess before going on a flight. Their behaviour, in a confined space, causes fear. They see people, such as yourself, in an intoxicated state, unable to control themselves.

"You say you are disgusted in yourself and your behaviour, and so you should be."

Judge Smith said that because the sentencing hearing was happening two years after the incident, and that Lowe had taken action to tackle his problems, he felt able to suspend a prison sentence. Lowe, from Lower Green Lane in Tyldesley, received a 28-week suspended sentence after admitting to boarding an aircraft while intoxicated and committing sexual assault.

He's been ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and 20 days of rehabilitation activities.

He will also be required to register as a sex offender for the next seven years.