Latest Offenders Chester

Description

A man, aged 41, has been jailed for 13 years after being found guilty of two counts of rape and coercive and controlling behaviour.

Aftab Zulfiqar (09/03/1985), of no fixed address, was sentenced at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on 15th April 2026.

Through exceptional courage, the survivor came forward to report Zulfiqar, beginning a process that required her to confront and relive deeply traumatic experiences in pursuit of justice.

The survivor was in a relationship with Zulfiqar for three years, during which she was subjected to sustained and escalating abuse that had a profound impact on her life.

Zulfiqar controlled every aspect of her daily routine, including what she wore, when she slept, what she ate and drank, who she was allowed to speak to and how she lived, isolating her from friends and support networks.

His constant demands for contact while she was at work placed significant pressure on her which resulted in her losing a job she loved, increasing her reliance on him.

During the relationship, Zulfiqar raped her on multiple occasions, exploiting the trust of their relationship and manipulating her into believing the abuse was not rape.

Over three years, the survivor endured mental, emotional, physical and sexual abuse. Despite the trauma she suffered, she showed exceptional courage in reporting Zulfiqar in October 2023 through our LiveChat function, concluding in him being arrested.  

LiveChat is a great way to report crimes discreetly.

She fully supported the investigation and stood up in court to give evidence against the man who abused her.

The survivor, in her victim impact statement, said:

“My relationship with Aftab has had a huge impact on my life, more than can be put into words really. I had little confidence any way but since being with Aftab, I have none at all.

“He drilled it into me that much that I’m ugly and worthless that I believed it and now struggle with confidence, and I don’t want to meet anyone.

“I don’t think I could ever trust someone again, I gave Aftab everything and he was never nice to me.

“I was so scared of doing anything wrong. At the smallest thing, he would attack me then throw me out of his flat.

“I was always to blame for everything – he once stood on the plug of my hair dryer and then smashed my hairdryer up and physically attacked me because it was somehow my fault.

“It makes me worried for future relationships and how I’ll be because I am so deeply hurt.

“I really feel that my relationship with Aftab and everything he has put me through will stay with me forever, but I’m determined that he hasn’t won, and I can now start to live a peaceful life after being put through 5 and a half years of hell.”

Following his arrest, Zulfiqar continued to cause distress by posting about the investigation and those involved on social media, leading to his remand in custody, where he has remained since September 2024.

Detective Constable Lucy Hamilton said:

“I want to commend the survivor for the remarkable courage she has shown in coming forward and supporting this investigation.

“Reporting offences of this nature is incredibly difficult, and it is through her bravery that a very dangerous man is now behind bars.

“We want to be absolutely clear: we take all reports of rape and sexual offences extremely seriously, and we will relentlessly pursue perpetrators.

“It is also vital that people understand coercive and controlling behaviour is a criminal offence and will not be tolerated.

“I hope this outcome provides the survivor with some measure of justice as she continues to rebuild her life. Her courage has protected other women from harm, and we will continue to stand with her, and every survivor, in the fight to bring offenders like Zulfiqar to justice."

Description

A convicted sex offender offered cash to have sex with an “11-year-old girl” unaware he was messaging an undercover police officer posing as the child’s aunt.

Richard Smith, 35, of Nixon Phillips Drive, Hindley Green, Wigan, told the officer: “Money isn’t a problem.”

The 35-year-old, who was subject to strict notification requirements at the time, first contacted the officer on the Chat IW website last August using the username “Whitestick”. The officer used the name “AuntofLil”, which denotes a female child to those in the know, Bolton Crown Court heard.

Smith claimed in his profile to be a 28-year-old from Aberdeen. He asked: “Oh hello, go on how old is she?” Told the “nieces” were 11 and 14, he moved the conversation to the encrypted app Teleguard, known to be used by paedophiles.

He asked for pictures of the girls, where they lived, and whether they were “innocent and naive”. When told they were in London he replied: “Oh it said Greater Manchester lmao fair enough tho I can travel to London.”

After a phone call discussing dates and money, Smith chose the £180 option and later offered £250 to “secure the slot” when told another client had already booked the Sunday. He described the 11-year-old as the “opportunity of a lifetime” and asked about a long-term arrangement. He responded with “a great deal of enthusiasm” to a Snapchat image of children’s underwear.

Smith did not finalise the meeting and was arrested a week later.

He pleaded guilty to arranging or facilitating a child sex offence and breaching notification requirements by failing to disclose his social media aliases.

The court heard he had been convicted in 2018 of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child after performing a sex act during a FaceTime call with a girl under 16, witnessed by her mother.

Defence barrister David Toal said Smith accepted sending the messages but stressed his “voluntary desistance”. “He drew back and that’s the reason why there’s no actual serious harm committed by him. He stopped because he chose to stop,” he told the court.

Recorder of Bolton Judge Nicholas Clarke KC sentenced Smith to six years’ imprisonment, imposed a sexual harm prevention order and ordered him to sign the sex offenders’ register for life. The judge described it as “quite alarming that such websites and facilities are available”.

Description

A 45-year-old man has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for one count of attempted rape and two counts of sexual assault after a court found him guilty following a trial earlier this year.

Michael Modlinsky (06/10/1980) from Salford, appeared at Bolton Crown Court yesterday (07/04/2026) for sentencing following an investigation led by our Salford Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

He will serve an additional three years on licence upon release, while also being subject to a lifetime restraining order.

In August 2025, the victim first met Modlinsky and after a few encounters with one another over the course of four weeks, the offender initiated more contact and began making overtly sexual comments towards her. Despite repeatedly telling him there was nothing between them, this continued.

On one evening, Modlinsky began grabbing the victim and forcing himself on to her while also threatening to rape her - the victim bravely managed to push him away and leave the room before reporting the offence to police.

In his police interview, Modlinsky denied ever making such comments and denied the assault on the victim. A jury, however, found him guilty on all three counts.

Detective Constable Chloe Catterall from our Salford CID said:

"This was an incredibly frightening incident for the victim, and her courage throughout this investigation and the court proceedings has been remarkable. I hope today's sentencing offers her some sense of closure and reassurance.

"This case demonstrates our commitment to thoroughly investigating reports of sexual assault and violence, and ensuring offenders face the full consequence of their actions.

"I urge anyone who may have gone through this or witnessed such incidents to please come forward - you will always be listened to, supported and taken seriously."

Description

A 74-year-old man was sentenced after pleading guilty to one count of rape of a woman 16 years or over, and one count of sexual assault.

Stephen Biggs (04/03/1952) of Furness Square, Bolton appeared at Bolton Crown Court on Thursday 2 April, and was sentenced to nine years in prison.

In late March 2025, a woman befriended Biggs and he invited her alone to his address. Biggs gave her a unknown substance, which led to her feeling drowsy and later falling unconscious in the offender's home.

When she awoke, some of her clothing had been removed, and she found Biggs on top of her. The victim was struggling to gain full consciousness and passed out once again. After waking up, she found the offender still on top of her with his trousers unzipped and she managed to push him off her.

Following his arrest, Biggs was interviewed by officers, where he admitted to raping and assaulting the victim whilst she was unconscious.

The victim bravely shared in her interview: "Being older, this has really taken a toll on me. It’s ruined my confidence. I’m struggling within my own relationship with my partner. It’s destroyed me.”

Detective Constable Jordan Brown from our Bolton CID said:

"This was a horrific assault that happened to the victim all without her consent and without her knowledge at the time.

"She has been immensely brave coming forward to report this and supporting the investigation and I would like to thank her for her continued strength and courage during this difficult time.

"We remain committed to supporting victims of sexual violence and bringing offenders to account, no matter how long it takes.

"I urge anyone who may have gone through this to please come forward and report. You will always be treated with respect and your reports will always be taken seriously." 

Description

A second Registered Sex Offender has been locked up after being caught by Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology.

Officers were alerted to Phillip Loxam (28/01/1969), of Edgeley, Stockport, when the vans were deployed in the town centre on 12 February this year.

When approached by officers, he was questioned and detained for a number of offences, including having software on his phone to conceal its internet history.

He was also found to have a concealed second unregistered mobile phone, which was located on his person after his arrest.

Loxam was jailed for 20 months when he appeared at Minshull Street Crown Court on Friday (13/3/26) when he admitted three breaches of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

He was previously sentenced to a 20-month prison sentence in July 2024 for seven breaches of his SHPO.

Description

Marvyn Thomas (28/03/1987), of Belmont Street Old Trafford, has today (16 March 2026) been sentenced to thirteen-and-a-half-years in jail following a two-week trial at Manchester Crown Court.

On 3rd February 2026, Thomas was convicted of three counts of ABH, two counts of non-fatal strangulation, two counts of criminal damage, sexual assault and rape.

The court heard how he was abusive, controlling and violent towards his victim over a sustained period. On a number of occasions throughout the summer of 2023 until March 2024, Thomas raped his victim.

During one incident following a verbal argument, he followed the victim into their bedroom where he grabbed them by the throat, slammed them against the wall and threatened to kill them, continuing to verbally and physically assault the victim.

The pressure that Thomas applied to the victim’s throat completely restricted their ability to breathe, they momentarily broke free before he grabbed them by the throat for a second time, this time forcing their pants down and telling them he will have sex with them ‘whenever he wants’.

The assault continued with him then raping them.

In October 2023, the victim sustained serious injuries and was hospitalised following a prolonged and violent attack by Thomas.

In March 2024, the violence continued. On Mother’s Day, the 38-year-old punched his victim in the face, knocking them unconscious and causing them to receive severe swelling and bruising to their eye.

Following a period of no contact, Thomas re-appeared in the victim’s home area, turning up in the same place they were on numerous occasions, including one incident where the victim and their family had to barricade themselves in a business premises, with staff members preventing him from entering the building.

Detective Constable Nicola Hughes from our City of Manchester CID said:

“Thomas inflicted a sustained campaign of violence, intimidation and abuse over a significant period of time. The level of harm he caused was deeply traumatic, and no one should ever be forced to endure what this victim went through.

“Their decision to come forward, to speak openly about the horrific abuse they have suffered, and to place their trust in our officers has taken extraordinary bravery. The whole process has been extremely difficult for the victim in this case, but their strength throughout the investigation has been remarkable, and today’s sentence is a testament to their courage.

“We hope this outcome brings some measure of reassurance and demonstrates that we will not hesitate to take decisive action against those who commit such offences. We remain absolutely committed to supporting victims, challenging perpetrators, and ensuring that those who cause harm are brought to justice.”

Description

A migrant rapist who ripped off a woman's jeans in the woods and told her to moan like she enjoyed it has been found guilty, a court heard. Gift Oladele, 24, was convicted by a Mold Crown Court jury of rape and sexual assault on a 19-year-old in Wrexham last September.

The 6ft 4in predator, who called himself “big Mike” and ran a cleaning business, put a hand over her mouth, pushed her into woods, struck her six or seven times, ripped off her jeans, and raped her.

Oladele ordered her to "moan like you are enjoying it," said he liked to be “dominant,” and told her to “pretend this never happened.” The victim said Oladele claimed she liked it: “As if justifying it in his head.” She told police: “It felt as if he had done it before. The way he did things and the way he handled me made it feel like it wasn’t the first time.” She added: “What I went through I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. I was scared for my life.”

In a video-recorded interview, the teen said Oladele approached her and a friend in Wrexham; her friend left by taxi, but she walked with him after he claimed his cousin lived nearby. They had “a laugh with each other,” but she grew uneasy. Prosecutor James Coutts said: “When she got home, the youngster woke her parents and police were called.” Officers found her phone, ripped belt, and knickers at the scene.

Oladele, staying at his cousin’s Wrexham home, later Googled “Wrexham rape after club.” He claimed the teen led him down the path and was “cunning,” insisting: “There was nothing predatory about the previous attack and I have changed since then.” He said he was trying to be a “good role model and good partner.” The jury found him guilty; he was cleared of one rape allegation.

Judge Simon Mills remanded him in custody for a danger assessment, warning: “I will be passing a long prison sentence upon you. This is a very serious case.”

This follows a 2022 conviction where Oladele, then 21 and from Manchester (having moved to the UK from Italy at 12), was jailed for two years for false imprisonment after pouncing on a lone woman who feared rape but escaped. Prosecutors called it a “disturbing and terrifying attack” and him “predatory” and a “danger to women.” Judge Conrad KC said: “You have inappropriate attitudes towards women with a sense of entitlement.”

Description

A convicted sex offender who showed "no understanding" or "remorse" for his crimes will not return to prison.

Jonathan Turkentine, 68, of Mersea Road, Colchester, had been remanded since February. He met with probation on Friday morning before appearing at Ipswich Crown Court, where he admitted possessing an indecent image of a girl and breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

The SHPO was imposed in 2022, when Turkentine was jailed for possessing 251,386 indecent images and videos of children. He breached it again last year by deleting photos and messages.

In July last year, during a routine visit, an officer found the image on his phone and noted 33 deleted items from his Safari history.

Despite pleading guilty, Turkentine told officers he was "totally bamboozled" as to how the offending occurred and "completely in the dark."

His defence barrister claimed Turkentine was remorseful, but Recorder Richard Leiper KC found the probation report "troubling" and remained unconvinced.

"You have shown no understanding of your offending, no remorse and you have sought to minimise your responsibility for it," Recorder Leiper told him.

Due to the deleted history, the judge said there was no way to confirm what Turkentine had accessed but surmised the image was linked to his online activities.

Recorder Leiper imposed a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

"I have, with great reluctance concluded there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation within the community," he said. "You should be extremely grateful for the submissions of your counsel."

Description

A man is set to be sentenced after he was found guilty of multiple counts of rape.

Aaron Furnival, of Hunter Street, Chester, was convicted of four counts of rape at Chester Crown Court on Monday 9 March.

The 31-year-old had previously pleaded guilty to one count of controlling and coercive behaviour.

He will be sentenced at Chester Crown Court on Friday 1 May.

The female victim in this case contacted police to report violent behaviour, emotional abuse and sexual abuse committed by Furnival.

The woman reported Furnival would take advantage of her while she was asleep, and she would awake to find him raping her.

He would also ignore the victim whenever they were having consensual sex and she withdrew her consent. She would ask him to stop and he would refuse.

Furnival was controlling and jealous. He transferred money from the victim’s bank account, threw water over her while she was asleep, and monitored her movements with constant phone calls and messages.

Furnival used foul and abusive language towards her, made threats to kill her and even wrote degrading words on her skin in marker pen.

Offices arrested Furnival on suspicion of the offences but during interview he denied the allegations against him.

Following an investigation, he was charged.

Detective Sergeant Andy Manson said:

“Firstly, we would like to recognise the bravery of the victim in this case for reporting what happened to her. We hope the conclusion of this trial will provide her with some sense of closure, knowing that the jury saw through his lies.

“Furnival’s cruel and abusive behaviour showed how he clearly had no regard for the welfare of his victim, instead doing whatever he wanted, no matter the consequences to her.

“He then put the victim through the stress of a trial after he refused to accept what he had done. Thankfully, he was found guilty of these crimes, and he will no doubt be facing a considerable length of time behind bars.”

Description

A man has been jailed for nine-and-a-half-years after being found guilty of the rape of a vulnerable girl in Stockport.

Mohsen Farjam (02/05/1982), of no fixed abode, was jailed for five offences at Manchester Crown Court on 5 March – two counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault, and one of sexual assault by penetration.

Due to the nature of the case – which occurred in July 2018 – considerable time and effort has been put in by officers to achieve the end result.

This includes extensive work by detectives and continued support and engagement with the victim.The case required comprehensive reviews as officers worked closely with both her and necessary partners.

The girl, who has a neurodevelopmental condition and was 15-years-old at the time, was on her own in Stockport, when she was approached by Farjam, who had seen that the victim was upset and in need of help.

Farjam then convinced the girl to get food nearby and charge her devices, telling her that he was currently homeless and pretended to offer her sympathy and support. He was in fact grooming and exploiting her.

After leaving, Farjam plied the girl with vodka at a tent in which he was living in on the outskirt of centre, at which point he began to inappropriately touch her – even stating to her that she looked nervous.

Farjam then sexually assaulted and raped the girl.

The girl was able to leave the tent following the attack and bravely told a relative, who then informed the police. Farjam was arrested just hours later.

Farjam completely denied the allegations put to him and showed no remorse. 

He told police that he saw the victim in a vulnerable state and had taken her back to the tent for a massage. He additionally claimed to be seeking help for the homeless community.

Officers have worked through tens of thousands of pages of relevant material as part of their investigation which saw Farjam finally sentenced on Thursday 5 March. 

In addition to his sentencing, he has been placed on the sex offender's register for life.

Detective Sergeant Rob Griffiths, from GMP’s Stockport Complex safeguarding team, said:

“I firstly want to commend the victim in this case, who endured this horrific crime aged just 15-years-old. They have been incredibly brave throughout the court process and are getting continual support by professionals – I hope that they can continue to heal following this awful ordeal.

“Farjam exploited vulnerabilities for his own sickening gratification, and it is utterly grim that he tried to disguise his intentions by pretending to want to help a child in need. Instead, he got her drunk and exploited her as part of his vile actions.

“I am glad that he is now finally behind bars for his crimes."

Description

This is the moment a registered sex offender was identified by Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology.

John Thompson was on our watchlist and spotted by one of the LFR cameras in Piccadilly Gardens on 28 January.

When he was approached by officers following the alert, Thompson admitted having an extra mobile phone in his possession, which breaches his Sexual Harm Protection Order (SHPO) and led to his arrest. 

Thompson, (10/06/1982), from Manchester, was in court this week after admitting to a total of 35 breaches of his SHPO and a breach of his sex offender notification requirements.

He was jailed for 16 months when he appeared at Manchester Crown Court on Tuesday (03/03/2026). He was also ordered to pay £187 costs.

Without LFR, this level of noncompliance could easily have gone unnoticed, leaving both the risk and Thompson's behaviour hidden.

We have been using LFR since October 2025, with 20% of arrests being for registered sex offenders and three-quarters of suspects being charged with offences.

Description

A rapist has been jailed for 16 years at Bradford Crown Court.

Mohammed Umar Khan, 42, of Oakland Avenue, Manchester, smirked as he appeared via video link from HMP Leeds. He was convicted after trial of rape and false imprisonment.

Sentencing him, Her Honour Judge Kirstie Watson said Khan had neither acknowledged his guilt nor accepted he had done anything wrong.

“That is a reflection of a man who puts himself above all others,” she told him.

She described his behaviour as “bizarre”, adding: “There was an incident where … you dressed yourself up as a woman to spy on her.”

The judge praised the victim’s bravery in coming forward.

In her statement, the victim called Khan a “hunter” and said she had been left with persistent fear, anxiety and sadness. She suffered sleepless nights, was constantly vigilant, and her “mind and body went numb”. Her sense of safety was “deeply shaken” and she added: “My spark was ripped away from me. I am not who I used to be.”

The court heard Khan had three previous convictions for six offences, including controlling and coercive behaviour and battery.

Mitigating, Erin Kitson-Parker conceded the “very, very serious offences” but argued there was no significant planning. Judge Watson rejected this, finding there had been significant planning.

Khan must serve two-thirds of his sentence before release on licence and will register as a sex offender for life.

Description

A delivery driver from Manchester has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman in Northwich.

Rana Jahangir was found guilty of one count of sexual assault following a trial at Chester Crown Court which concluded on Friday 27 February 2026.

The 25-year-old of Collington Close, Manchester has been jailed for two years and four months. He has also been ordered to sign the sex offenders register for ten years and handed a restraining order which prevents him from contacting the victim.

The court heard how on Tuesday 2 September 2025, Jahangir delivered food to an address on Shipbrook Road in Rudheath.

After handing over the food, he went on to grab the woman from behind and started hugging and kissing her.

The assault continued for over a minute, despite repeated requests for him to stop.

The victim initially chose not to report the matter to police but instead made a complaint to the delivery company.

However, after speaking to friends, she later contacted police on Wednesday 3 September and Jahangir was arrested.

Following his arrests, Jahangir denied sexually assaulting the victim and claimed that it was consensual.

However, unbeknown to him, part of the incident had been recorded on a mobile phone, and he was subsequently charged with one count of sexual assault.

Following the guilty verdict, Detective Constable Sarah Ollier, said:

“During questioning Jahangir denied sexually assaulting the victim, instead claiming that it was consensual.

“Even when we presented him with the mobile phone footage, he continued to deny the allegations, claiming that the victim had set him up.

“Thankfully, the jury saw through his lies, and he has been held accountable for his actions.

“I welcome the sentenced handed to Jahangir and I hope that it provides some reassurance to the victim.

“We will continue to do all we can to tackle any incident of violence against women and take all reports of such crimes extremely seriously and will investigate thoroughly to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.”

Description

A dangerous offender who sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl has been handed an extended 21year sentence after our officers irrefutably linked him to the crime through DNA evidence.

Their work led a Crown Court judge to issue a formal commendation to the investigative team for bringing him to justice.

Judge Martyn Levett described how the case required:

“focused attention and hard work from people who work late at night and probably very early in the morning.”

He continued:

“Investigating a case such as this provides many challenges due to the constellation of different pieces of evidence.

“I appreciate that much of the work involves putting together a coherent case which is then presented to the jury. Sometimes that is not easy.

“I probably only see part of what goes on behind the scenes in the preparation of such cases.

“This is only possible with teamwork and backup. It’s often forgotten that these cases cannot function on their own, and the welfare of everyone has to be well looked after before, during and after the course of a trial.

“I would like to take the opportunity to thank all those concerned in this case, and if I may, single out DC Tamsin Lyons, DC Debbie Hewett, DC Owen Clements and DS Gavin Wiseman.
They should be commended for their hard work. A commendation is truly deserved.”

Judge Levett praised the detectives for presenting a coherent case in which “all the arrows pointed to one man”.

That man was 28yearold Dominic Boultwood.

Already a convicted sex offender, Boultwood lured his victim to a wooded area of Bourne Valley Nature Reserve, near Mersea Road, Colchester, on Thursday 9 May 2024.

After engaging her in a sexualised conversation and confirming her young age, he pulled her to the ground and sexually assaulted her.

On several occasions he warned the girl not to report him to police or tell anyone what had happened.

Distressed and crying, she asked to leave. Boultwood told her to remain at the scene for five minutes while he walked away.

She later felt able to leave and returned home, quickly confiding in a friend. We were alerted soon afterwards and launched an immediate investigation, putting specialist support in place for the girl and carrying out urgent enquiries.

Numerous pieces of evidence pointed to Boultwood, but crucially he was linked through DNA discovered on the victim’s clothing.

Arrested

We arrested him on Wednesday 15 May and searched his home, where a quantity of cannabis was seized.

In interview, Boultwood claimed he had been fishing in the nature reserve on the day of the offence. He denied seeing or speaking to any child, acknowledging that doing so would breach court orders.

Boultwood had previously been convicted in 2015 of a separate sexual assault and received a sevenyear sentence, comprising four years in custody and three years on licence. He was subject to notification requirements and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which allowed monitoring software to be installed on his mobile phone.

During his first interview, Boultwood said that if he had committed the offence as alleged, he would admit it. After being presented with forensic evidence, he provided a prepared statement in a second interview, claiming his DNA could have been on the girl’s clothing because he regularly slept and urinated in the area.

He was charged with sexual assault and assault by penetration and was remanded in custody.

Jailed

Boultwood stood trial at Ipswich Crown Court in March last year, also facing a charge of making indecent images of children following a previous examination of his mobile phone. Officers had found a number of sexualised images of children aged between three and 13.

Due to the overwhelming evidence gathered against him, a jury convicted him of all three offences.

Appearing at Woolwich Crown Court on Wednesday 25 February, he was deemed a dangerous offender requiring an extended sentence to protect the public. This comprised 13 years’ imprisonment and an additional eight years on extended licence.

He will remain subject to indefinite notification requirements and a renewed Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which will help deter and detect any future offending. A lifelong restraining order was also imposed to protect the victim.

Judge Levett said Boultwood had:

“manipulated a very young girl to fulfil his sexual desire” and added that places such as nature reserves should be spaces where children feel safe to walk without any sense of danger.

'The sooner you speak out the better'

The mother of the victim, who must remain anonymous, said:

“Officers were amazing. I know these things are scary but the sooner you speak out the quicker police can get the person and hopefully, in time, give closure.

“It may take a while, but patience is important. These things may not affect you instantly, but they will long term.

“Everyone needs to speak out and everyone needs to feel safe so maybe we do need to see more of a presence in quiet, enclosed areas.”

A dangerous sexual predator

Detective Inspector James Holmes, of our Serious Crime Directorate, said:

“Boultwood is a dangerous sexual predator who poses a very real risk to young girls.

“Despite his previous imprisonment for sexual offending and the strict conditions imposed upon him as a registered sex offender, he chose to completely disregard those matters – showing utter contempt for his victim and the law.

“We firmly believe he was fully aware of his despicable actions in preying on a lone 13yearold schoolgirl and knew we were looking for him in the days after the offence.

“He has never shown the slightest remorse.

“Thanks to the evidence we gathered, a jury saw through his lies and convicted him over his horrific actions. He is now back where he belongs – in prison.

“I want to pay tribute to the victim, who has shown patience and bravery throughout this investigation. I hope that, with the support of her family and those around her, she is able to move forward.

“If you are a victim of a sexual offence in Essex, you will be listened to and your voice will be heard.

“We have teams of specialist officers dedicated to investigating sexual offences against children. Even if you do not feel ready to speak to police, you can contact an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor, who will listen and help you access the support you need.”

Description

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.”