Latest Offenders Chester

Description

A former aviation company director has been jailed for sexual offences against three children in Winchester.

Matthew Myatt, 57, abused two of the girls at Popham Airfield, where Myatt’s company was based, and engaged in sexual communication online with a third girl.

The abuse took place between 2016 and 2022, during which Myatt also coerced one of the girls into sending indecent images of herself to him in exchange for money.

The offences were reported to police in April 2022.

Following a police investigation, Myatt was charged with a number of offences, and pleaded guilty to the following:

• Sexual activity with a child
• Causing or inciting child prostitution or pornography
• Possession of indecent images of a child
• Sexual communication with a child
• Sexual assault

Appearing at Winchester Crown Court on 27 June, Myatt, of Cripstead Lane in Winchester, was jailed for four years and ordered to sign on the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely

He was also handed a restraining order, and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order with a number of prohibitions relating to his access to the internet and contact with children.

Description

A paedophile who groomed, exploited, and coerced two teenage girls into sex work in the early 2000s has been sentenced to 13 years in prison today (Wednesday 25th June 2025) at Manchester Crown Court.

Christopher Oates (28/11/1979) of Tannock Road, Stockport, has been brought to justice after he subjected vulnerable girls to a campaign of violence and sexual abuse twenty years ago.

He groomed one of the survivors from when she was 14 years old. He provided her with a false sense of security, paid her compliments, and pretended to be her boyfriend.

The court heard how this relationship progressed, as Oates plied her with drugs, gifts, and affection, using the trust and control he gained to persuade her to start sex work on the streets of Manchester.

When she began to doubt his intentions and asked to go home, Oates dragged the teenage girl down an alleyway, violently attacked her, and threatened her with a gun, stating: You do as I say, youre mine now, commanding her to go to her spot.

While Oates had frequently been abusive towards her, this incident was the catalyst for change.

She confided in her mother and support services and found the strength to move forward with her life, while courageously supporting our police investigation.

In a victim impact statement, that was read out in court, she said: One of the hardest pills to swallow has always been how, how can one human being make another do something so extreme.

To have to read letters I wrote idolising this man, professing my love for him, and telling everybody that would listen he was my boyfriend is heartbreaking. The trust I remember feeling, the love and how special I must have felt at a time when I felt completely alone in the world is what Ive had to accept is the how I would have done anything, and you used that for your own sick advantage.

You groomed me, you put a gun to my head, and not only did you abuse me, but you let other men too. The fear, the pain and confusion I felt I cant begin to put into words. And the impact of this?

Even now I struggle to trust my own judgements 20 years later; I cant make simple decisions without feeling wrong, overwhelmed, and panicked. I still dont trust me.

Detectives investigating this case were able to identify a second victim, who was 17 years old when Oates coerced her into sex work.

This girl only knew Oates by the nickname Nails due to his long fingernails. It was through this recollection and viewing images of Oates at the time, along with similar victim accounts, that we were able to identify Oates as the offender.

The two victims recall Oates taking them to a designated spot in central Manchester at least once a week to carry out sex acts in cars for money. One night, he organised for them to have sex in a room with a man while being recorded on video.

Oates would supply both victims with cocaine and alcohol and pressured them to take crack cocaine and heroin, aiming to build an addiction and increase their dependency on him, but they declined and managed to escape.

The second victim in this case also provided an impact statement, which stated: I was bullied and manipulated and the person responsible for this was Christopher Oates.

At the time when the exploitation was happening, I felt ashamed, embarrassed, and pressured by Oates. I felt absolutely vile during and after the incident involving the video camera and also when I stood on street corners, I felt scared about who would be in the next car that stopped, and I was terrified.

Since this time, I have regularly had to pass the location of where this happened when travelling on the train, and I have had to look away and look out the other side, so I did not need to see it.

Operation Green Jacket

This case formed one of 15 live investigations running under Operation Green Jacket, led by our Child Sexual Exploitation Major Incident Team, dedicated to securing long-awaited justice for victims of non-recent child sexual abuse in Manchester.

Since Operation Green Jacket was launched in 2019, we have arrested 73 suspects and conducted over 1,300 interviews.

Identifying, tracing, and pursuing our suspect

Oates is the first offender to be sentenced following a long and complex investigation. Our enquiries commenced in November 2012 when a warrant was executed at his property in relation to drug offences.

Oates was not present, and three days later he flew from Heathrow to Bangkok. However, his mobile device was seized, and digital examinations revealed it contained 130 indecent images of children alongside searches for related content.

In 2021, detectives investigating Operation Green Jacket wanted to speak with Oates. His passport records indicated he remained in Thailand. Through extensive enquiries, the investigation team was able to establish that Oates had been living in the Dominican Republic and returning to the UK intermittently before moving back.

In November 2023, Oates was arrested at an address in Stockport where he was cultivating cannabis and in possession of a significant quantity. He also had a passport with his photo and a false name, as well as a matching driving licence and bank card. Oates had travelled using this documentation on at least five occasions.

Officers seized his tablet containing indecent images of children and evidence that Oates was sending sexualised messages to a child through social media.

In April 2024, on what would have been the first day of trial, Oates pleaded guilty to two counts of making indecent images of children, taking indecent images of children, and attempting to engage a child in sexual communication. He also pleaded to the production of cannabis and two counts of possessing an identity document with improper intent.

Oates was remanded into custody. On 5th September 2024, he was postal charged with possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, three counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged 13 15 years old and two counts causing / inciting a child aged 13 17 years to prostitution.

In March earlier this year on the fourth day of his trial, Oates admitted to the offences.

Today (25/06/2025) he was sentenced to 13 years in prison for all his crimes.

Description

A TEENAGER who was sexually assaulted by a predator got baptised in an attempt to ‘feel clean’ again.

The incident occurred last year in Warrington, when she was sexually assaulted by then 35-year-old Emmanuel Onwubiko.

Onwubiko, of Derwent Road in Ashton, began to behave inappropriately towards the teenager, Liverpool Crown Court heard on Friday.

This behaviour escalated as the then 35-year-old, who is originally from Nigeria, touched her breast and later touched her bottom.

Onwubiko also grabbed the then 18-year-old’s vagina on two occasions, and asked her inappropriate sexual questions.

When it was clear that the teenager was uncomfortable, Onwubiko complained of cultural differences and said that this behaviour towards women in Nigeria would not be reported.

The victim felt ‘physically sick’ and retreated to a bathroom to hide from him, and sent a ‘running log’ of the assaults to a friend.

She later fled and went to a family member’s house and told them what was happening.

The police were called, Onwubiko was arrested, and he denied the assaults during his interview with officers.

Onwubiko pleaded not guilty to all charges and subjected his victim to a trial, where she had to recount the traumatic sexual assaults before a jury.

Despite his denial, the now 36-year-old was found guilty on all five counts of sexual assault, and he appeared back before Liverpool Crown Court for his sentencing on Friday.

The victim bravely read out a statement to the court, sharing heartbreaking details about how the assaults had impacted her, stating that it had left her feeling ‘disgusted’.

“My mental health has significantly declined due to what happened to me,” she said.

“Some days I feel as though I can't get out of bed due to feeling anxious.

“My mind is always thinking about what happened to me, and it is as though I have constant flashbacks about what happened to me. I now feel a shell of my former self.”

She also shared that the assaults left her feeling so desperate to feel clean again that she got baptised.

“I researched online and found a church that does baptisms on short notice,” she said.

“I felt so desperate to try and cleanse my body and feel as clean as possible. I was reaching out to God to try and get some help, and I thought bathing in holy water would wash away the horrible feelings I was having.”

Defending, Robert Wynn-Jones told the court that the Nigerian-national came to the UK on a student visa, which has since expired.

It was heard that the 36-year-old is hoping to apply for a post-graduate visa to remain the UK and repay a loan, as his wife and three children are being threatened with harm if it is not repaid.

“From the very beginning of that day, you behaved inappropriately towards her,” said judge Gary Woodhall.

“You demonstrated sexual attraction towards her. She was scared.”

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Woodhall referenced the 'harm' that was caused to Onwubiko when he was assaulted by the victim's father.

In a court case last year, it was heard that the victim's dad punched the 36-year-old several times to the back of his head after hearing of his daughter's assault.

Onwubiko suffered a nose bleed, two chipped teeth, and a month later, it was confirmed that he had a subdural haemorrhage.

He underwent an emergency operation which involved a hole being drilled into his brain.

The victim's father was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.

On Friday, Onwubiko was sentenced to two years of immediate imprisonment, and he was ordered to sign the sex offender register for 10 years.

A 10-year restraining order was also approved to protect the victim.

Description

Mushtaq Ahmed, 67, of Corona Avenue, Oldham, guilty of nine offences including rape and indecency with a child.

Seven men have been found guilty of using two teenage girls as "sex slaves" in Rochdale.

Members:

• Mohammed Zahid
• Kasir Bashir
• Mushtaq Ahmed
• Roheez Khan
• Mohammed Shahzad
• Nisar Hussain
• Naheem Akram

Their trial at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester heard evidence in relation to 53 sexual offences, believed to have been committed between 2001 and 2006, over 72 days.

One of the victims, who is now in her 30s, told the jury that she was labelled a "prostitute" by social services in Rochdale when allegations against the men first came to light.

Their trial was told that she and the other victim were groomed from the age of 13 and forced to have sex with the men "whenever and wherever" they wanted - including on rancid mattresses, in car parks and alleyways.

Both victims were given drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes by the men involved, the court heard. They were also introduced to taxi drivers for sexual exploitation.

The seven men found guilty, all of whom denied any wrongdoing, include:

• Father-of-three Mohammed Zahid, 64, of Station Road, Crumpsall, Manchester. He was found guilty of 20 offences including rape, indecency with a child, and attempting to procure a girl into having unlawful sexual intercourse.
• Kasir Bashir, 50, of Napier Street East, Oldham, was convicted in his absence - and is now wanted. He was found guilty of four offences, including rape and indecency with a child.
• Mushtaq Ahmed, 67, of Corona Avenue, Oldham, was found guilty of nine offences including rape and indecency with a child.
• Roheez Khan, 39, of Athole Street, Rochdale, was found guilty of one offence of rape.
• Mohammed Shahzad, 44, of Beswicke Royds Street, Rochdale, is guilty of six offences including rape and assault by penetration.
• Nisar Hussain, 41, of Newfield Close, Rochdale, was guilty of three offences, including rape and assault by penetration.
• Naheem Akram, 48, of Manley Road, Rochdale, is guilty of seven offences including rape and assault by penetration.

Zahid - known as Boss Man - offered the victims free lingerie from his market stall, in exchange for money, food, and sex with him and his friends.

The trial lasted around four months, with jurors delivering their unanimous guilty verdicts on Friday, after three weeks of deliberations.

32 offenders have been jailed for a combined 300 years, Greater Manchester police has said, as part of two major investigations in the past decade.

An additional 20 men are due on trial - with their next court date set for September 2025.

Detective Chief Inspector Guy Laycock - the senior investigating officer on the case - has said that his investigators spent "thousands of hours" on the "complex" case.

He paid tribute to the two survivors.

"They have been pivotal in bringing these abusers to long-awaited justice by bravely giving painful and difficult testimony during a four-month trial. Without them this would not be possible, and today is about them."

Detective Laycock also said the seven men "preyed on vulnerability for their own depraved sexual gain."

He added: "The men abused, degraded and then discarded the victims when they were just children. This horrific abuse knew no limits, despite their denials throughout this lengthy investigation and court case.

"They had a callous disregard for these women when they were girls, and continue to show no remorse for their unforgivable actions all these years later."

Description

Kasir Bashir, 50, of Napier Street East, Oldham, guilty of four offences including rape and indecency with a child.

Seven men have been found guilty of using two teenage girls as "sex slaves" in Rochdale.

Members:

• Mohammed Zahid
• Kasir Bashir
• Mushtaq Ahmed
• Roheez Khan
• Mohammed Shahzad
• Nisar Hussain
• Naheem Akram

Their trial at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester heard evidence in relation to 53 sexual offences, believed to have been committed between 2001 and 2006, over 72 days.

One of the victims, who is now in her 30s, told the jury that she was labelled a "prostitute" by social services in Rochdale when allegations against the men first came to light.

Their trial was told that she and the other victim were groomed from the age of 13 and forced to have sex with the men "whenever and wherever" they wanted - including on rancid mattresses, in car parks and alleyways.

Both victims were given drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes by the men involved, the court heard. They were also introduced to taxi drivers for sexual exploitation.

The seven men found guilty, all of whom denied any wrongdoing, include:

• Father-of-three Mohammed Zahid, 64, of Station Road, Crumpsall, Manchester. He was found guilty of 20 offences including rape, indecency with a child, and attempting to procure a girl into having unlawful sexual intercourse.
• Kasir Bashir, 50, of Napier Street East, Oldham, was convicted in his absence - and is now wanted. He was found guilty of four offences, including rape and indecency with a child.
• Mushtaq Ahmed, 67, of Corona Avenue, Oldham, was found guilty of nine offences including rape and indecency with a child.
• Roheez Khan, 39, of Athole Street, Rochdale, was found guilty of one offence of rape.
• Mohammed Shahzad, 44, of Beswicke Royds Street, Rochdale, is guilty of six offences including rape and assault by penetration.
• Nisar Hussain, 41, of Newfield Close, Rochdale, was guilty of three offences, including rape and assault by penetration.
• Naheem Akram, 48, of Manley Road, Rochdale, is guilty of seven offences including rape and assault by penetration.

Zahid - known as Boss Man - offered the victims free lingerie from his market stall, in exchange for money, food, and sex with him and his friends.

The trial lasted around four months, with jurors delivering their unanimous guilty verdicts on Friday, after three weeks of deliberations.

32 offenders have been jailed for a combined 300 years, Greater Manchester police has said, as part of two major investigations in the past decade.

An additional 20 men are due on trial - with their next court date set for September 2025.

Detective Chief Inspector Guy Laycock - the senior investigating officer on the case - has said that his investigators spent "thousands of hours" on the "complex" case.

He paid tribute to the two survivors.

"They have been pivotal in bringing these abusers to long-awaited justice by bravely giving painful and difficult testimony during a four-month trial. Without them this would not be possible, and today is about them."

Detective Laycock also said the seven men "preyed on vulnerability for their own depraved sexual gain."

He added: "The men abused, degraded and then discarded the victims when they were just children. This horrific abuse knew no limits, despite their denials throughout this lengthy investigation and court case.

"They had a callous disregard for these women when they were girls, and continue to show no remorse for their unforgivable actions all these years later."

Description

Mohammed Zahid, 64, of Station Road, Crumpsall, Manchester, guilty of 20 offences including rape, indecency with a child, and attempting to procure a girl into having unlawful sexual intercourse.

Seven men have been found guilty of using two teenage girls as "sex slaves" in Rochdale.

Members:

• Mohammed Zahid
• Kasir Bashir
• Mushtaq Ahmed
• Roheez Khan
• Mohammed Shahzad
• Nisar Hussain
• Naheem Akram

Their trial at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester heard evidence in relation to 53 sexual offences, believed to have been committed between 2001 and 2006, over 72 days.

One of the victims, who is now in her 30s, told the jury that she was labelled a "prostitute" by social services in Rochdale when allegations against the men first came to light.

Their trial was told that she and the other victim were groomed from the age of 13 and forced to have sex with the men "whenever and wherever" they wanted - including on rancid mattresses, in car parks and alleyways.

Both victims were given drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes by the men involved, the court heard. They were also introduced to taxi drivers for sexual exploitation.

The seven men found guilty, all of whom denied any wrongdoing, include:

• Father-of-three Mohammed Zahid, 64, of Station Road, Crumpsall, Manchester. He was found guilty of 20 offences including rape, indecency with a child, and attempting to procure a girl into having unlawful sexual intercourse.
• Kasir Bashir, 50, of Napier Street East, Oldham, was convicted in his absence - and is now wanted. He was found guilty of four offences, including rape and indecency with a child.
• Mushtaq Ahmed, 67, of Corona Avenue, Oldham, was found guilty of nine offences including rape and indecency with a child.
• Roheez Khan, 39, of Athole Street, Rochdale, was found guilty of one offence of rape.
• Mohammed Shahzad, 44, of Beswicke Royds Street, Rochdale, is guilty of six offences including rape and assault by penetration.
• Nisar Hussain, 41, of Newfield Close, Rochdale, was guilty of three offences, including rape and assault by penetration.
• Naheem Akram, 48, of Manley Road, Rochdale, is guilty of seven offences including rape and assault by penetration.

Zahid - known as Boss Man - offered the victims free lingerie from his market stall, in exchange for money, food, and sex with him and his friends.

The trial lasted around four months, with jurors delivering their unanimous guilty verdicts on Friday, after three weeks of deliberations.

32 offenders have been jailed for a combined 300 years, Greater Manchester police has said, as part of two major investigations in the past decade.

An additional 20 men are due on trial - with their next court date set for September 2025.

Detective Chief Inspector Guy Laycock - the senior investigating officer on the case - has said that his investigators spent "thousands of hours" on the "complex" case.

He paid tribute to the two survivors.

"They have been pivotal in bringing these abusers to long-awaited justice by bravely giving painful and difficult testimony during a four-month trial. Without them this would not be possible, and today is about them."

Detective Laycock also said the seven men "preyed on vulnerability for their own depraved sexual gain."

He added: "The men abused, degraded and then discarded the victims when they were just children. This horrific abuse knew no limits, despite their denials throughout this lengthy investigation and court case.

"They had a callous disregard for these women when they were girls, and continue to show no remorse for their unforgivable actions all these years later."

Description

A man has been jailed after he was convicted of sexually assaulting a woman in Chester city centre.

Gurpreet Sahota was found guilty of one count of sexual assault following a  trial at Chester Crown Court which concluded earlier today, Thursday 12 June.

The 30-year-old, of no fixed abode, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison. He is also required to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years.

The court heard that shortly after 2am on Sunday 8 December 2024, the victim, a 22-year-old woman, was walking home alone after finishing her shift at work.

As she walked towards the Fountains Roundabout, she was approached by Sahota who told her, “You shouldn’t walk home alone”.

Despite reassuring Sahota that she was OK, he continued to follow her as she walked down the ramp to go into the subway.

Sahota then placed his hand down the victim’s trousers and touched her inappropriately. The victim initially froze, before regaining her composure and fleeing the scene to seek help from two passers-by.

Sahota subsequently walked away from the scene.

The incident was reported to Cheshire Police and an investigation was launched by detectives at Chester CID.

Following extensive enquiries, including extensive CCTV and mobile phone analysis, Sahota was identified as the suspect and arrested at a nearby pub where he had been residing while working as a decorator.

During interview Sahota admitted that he was the person in the footage, but denied touching her, instead stating that he had maintained a safe distance of 60cm.

Following the guilty verdict, Detective Constable Barbara Billington said:

“I would like to recognise the bravery the victim has shown throughout this investigation and subsequent court proceedings. 

"Everyone has the right to feel safe in public.Nobody should have to experience what the victim has been through, and I hope that the conclusion of this case will provide her with some closure and help her recover from what she has been through.

 “Sahota chose to take advantage of a woman while she was alone, and without her consent. Instead of admitting his guilt, he chose to put her through an extremely traumatic trial, where she had to relive the impact of his crime.

“Detectives worked non-stop to identify Sahota, he had no links to Chester. Large amounts CCTV footage were reviewed to identify him and we were then able to track his movements.  Thanks to the officers involved in this complex case, along with the victim’s courage and tenacity, Sahota will now face the consequences of his actions.”

Description

A notorious paedophile has been allowed to live just metres from a childrens playground in Heywood without the knowledge of the probation service, the Manchester Evening News can reveal.

Digital maps used by the probation service initially failed to identify the presence of the park directly opposite the home where Todros Grynhaus is living, correspondence shared with the Manchester Evening News shows.

The Probation Service said the decisions around where a sex offender lives are based on 'particular risks an individual poses' and are 'actively monitored on an ongoing basis'.

Elsie Blundell, Heywood's MP, has written to the Probation Service about her 'grave concerns' and said: "Sexual offenders released from custody have no place near settings or local amenities frequented by children or young people."

The Manchester Evening News understands there is another individual residing at the property and has therefore taken the decision not to publish the exact location.

The community where Grynhaus lives is aware of his convictions, and some residents told the Manchester Evening News they no longer allow their children to play in the park, adding they felt 'angry' he had been allowed to live on what they described as a 'family estate'.

Greater Manchester Police says it continually reviews risk assessments, which take place alongside 'statutory partners, including the Probation Service'.

Grynhaus, a successful businessman and father-of-ten who enjoyed high standing in Salfords tight-knit ultra-Orthodox community, was jailed for over 13 years in 2015 after a jury found him guilty of seven sex offences against two young girls between 1996 and 2004.

The court heard he subjected one teenage girl to a campaign of abuse over three years, repeatedly groping her and even taking her to a hotel and molesting her in the jacuzzi.

A second victim, also a teenage girl, was groped by Grynhaus over a three-month period. In his sentencing remarks, Mr Justice Holroyde said Grynhaus took cynical advantage of his victims vulnerability, adding he believed there was a significant risk he would commit further sexual offences against a girl or girls.

Grynhaus was made to sign the sex offenders register for life, and made subject to an extended licence period of four years following his prison term of 13 years and two months.

He was released in 2022 but was reportedly recalled to prison following a breach of his licence.

He was later authorised to move into his current address following a Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) assessment - a mandatory requirement for all registered sex offenders.

However, the digital maps used during the MAPPA assessment did not pick up the presence of the childrens playground opposite Grynhaus new address.

The Manchester Evening News counted just 24 paces between the gate of Grynhaus' home and the park. Authorities were only made aware of it following a complaint.

In a letter to the complainant seen by this newspaper, Andy Roberts, Assistant Chief Officer at Greater Manchester Probation Service (GMPS), said the decision regarding where Grynhaus could live was made based on digital maps.

In relation to granting permission of a registered sex offender to reside opposite a childrens park. As I explaineddecisions like this are made on a multi-agency (MAPPA) basis and not solely by probation, he wrote.

The case at the time was also managed by a different PDU (probation delivery unit) and the decision was based on electronic information (map) made available. This did not identify the presence of the park. The learning from this has been shared.

Later in the letter, Mr Roberts said the complaint regarding Grynhaus housing had not been upheld, adding: but I would state there is learning to be gained.

Neighbours spoke of their shock when they discovered Todros grim past and said they felt scared and angry about him living opposite the playground.

When they first moved in everyone was really welcoming, we welcome any culture, one neighbour told the Manchester Evening News.

But then word started going round about who he was and it was like, wow.

His house is literally in front of a park. It really worries me that he has been allowed to live there. At the end of the day he is a dangerous man.

She added there are parents in the area who now refuse to take their children to the park.

I know one mum who was just starting to let her little girl go by herself and now she wont, she said.

She has had to take that away from her.

Were paying money to maintain it (the park) and now people cant use it, she said.

People have bought their family homes here. I think at first a lot of people were really scared, but now they are angry.

She said she felt disheartened by the Probation Services failure to identify the park in their assessment.

Theyre supposed to protect us - they didnt do that and now theyre telling us they cant make him move, she continued. We want him gone. Its not fair.

Elsie Blundell, the MP for Heywood and Middleton North, said she was extremely disappointed the Probation Service has not carried out checks sufficiently, adding that sexual offenders released from custody have no place near settings or local amenities frequented by children or young people.

The safety and security of my constituents especially of children is my highest priority as the Member of Parliament for Heywood and Middleton North, Elsie Blundell MP told the M.E.N.

I am clear that sexual offenders released from custody have no place near settings or local amenities frequented by children or young people and I wrote to the Probation Service to raise my grave concerns as soon as I was made aware of this particular case.

The onus is on the Probation Services to carry out thorough and rigorous checks to ensure that the location of these offenders, upon release, is predicated on the nature of crimes they have committed.

I am extremely disappointed that the Probation Service, in this instance, has not carried out these checks sufficiently and that a presence of a childrens park was not identified in the location of this particular offender.

In representing my constituents concerns in this area, I wrote to Lord Timpson, the Minister of State for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, who has agreed, in turn, to conduct a review of the Address Checks (Post Custody) Policy Framework. I have been assured that the Ministry of Justice will publish this updated guidance in July this year.

I understand that the proposed updates within the review include changes to clarify and strengthen the particular arrangements for checking addresses proposed by sex offenders. This will ensure that probation officials can make a fully informed decision when determining whether to approve a proposed address something which has not happened in this instance.

All families should have the confidence that their local parks, green spaces and play areas are safe and secure for their children to enjoy.

I will be actively monitoring developments in relation to the Probation Service and will also be following the action taken by the Ministry of Justice in the coming weeks.

A Probation Service spokesperson said: "Special consideration is given to where registered sex offenders are allowed to live by a range of agencies including the Probation Service, police and local authority as part of dedicated procedures to protect the public.

These decisions are informed by the particular risks an individual poses and are actively monitored on an ongoing basis.

All offenders released on licence are supervised by probation staff and can be recalled to prison if they breach the strict conditions they are subject to."

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson added: "GMP work with our statutory partners, including the Probation Service, to appropriately manage the individuals and their conditions, taking into account all the necessary circumstances and arrangements to ensure the safety of the community.

"All risk assessments are continually assessed and reviewed."

Description

In June 2023, one of our officers promised a victim of sexual abuse that he would secure justice for her before she died.

Now, we have been able to fulfil that promise, when a man was jailed after being found guilty of non-recent sexual offences.

James Gibbs appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday 22 May and was sentenced to four years in prison, after previously being found guilty of gross indecency offences.

An investigation by Essex Police’s Quest Team was launched in 2021, after a woman bravely reported that she had been sexually abused by Gibbs more than 40 years ago.

After facilitating early-stage interviews with the victim, Gibbs was arrested in February 2021 and later charged with two counts of gross indecency.

Gibbs pleaded not guilty to both offences.

The victim sadly passed away before the trial began but before she did, Detective Sergeant Ed Massey had seen her in a hospice and pledged to do his best to get justice for her.

DS Massey worked with the Crown Prosecution Service to push for the trial to go ahead, using a pre-recorded interview with the victim as evidence.

Following a trial, Gibbs, 73, of Meadow Way, Jaywick, was convicted in July 2024 of two counts of indecency.

He appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday 22 May and was sentenced to four years in prison, with two thirds to be served before he can be considered for release.

He was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order restricting his access to children for the next ten years and will be a registered sex offender for the rest of his life.

During sentencing, the judge paid tribute to the victim and praised her bravery in coming forward to report the matters.

Description

Benjamin Magee (27/07/1992) of Shannon Road, Manchester was sentenced to 18 years at Manchester Minshull Crown Court on Wednesday 7 May 2025. He also received an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and a restraining order.

Back in August 2023, the victim had attended a Greater Manchester Police station with her friend to report sexual abuse concerns. Enquiries uncovered that Magee had met her the year before in August 2022 and in the months that followed bought her gifts, took her to roller blading and asked her to walk his dog for money. This included stating that he would pay for her future studies.

In return he used this to rape her at various locations using force, with the victim who was 15 at the time, accounting it happening on 40 to 50 occasions, most recently in May 2023, with her challenging him that what he had done was wrong and never providing consent.

After denying the offences on interview, when arrested by detectives it resulted in the confirmation of the offences.

Following a trial, he was found guilty of three counts of non-penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged 13-15, assault of a female aged 13 and over by penetration with part of a body, multiple counts of assault of a female aged 13 or over by penetration with part of a body and two breaches of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order after he was already on the register.

After a re-trial he was found guilty again of three counts of vaginal rape and two counts of oral rape.

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Brandon Smith (14/02/2000) of Larch Road in Denton, was found guilty of two counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault and one assault by penetration.

He was sentenced to 12-and-a-half years at Bolton Crown Court today (Wednesday 30 April 2025) for raping and sexually assaulting a woman in July 2024. Smith will then serve three years on extended licence. 

On Friday 5 July 2024, Smith launched his attack on the woman, who was not known to him, grabbed her and threatened to stab her if she made any noise.

He then dragged her down a path off King Street and Pitt Street in Hyde before he carried out a sustained sexual attack.

He told the woman he had been watching her for six months and following the attack, he made threats to harm her family if she said anything.

Following an investigation, Smith was arrested on Sunday 7 July 2024. After a trial at Bolton Crown Court, he was found guilty on all five counts on Wednesday 8 January 2025.

Brandon Smith was jailed for 12-and-a-half years.

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A woman has bravely spoken out after she and another victim were assaulted by a child sex offender from East Bergholt, who has now been jailed for 12 years.

The two women spoke to Essex Police in 2022 to disclose the historic offences committed by 36-year-old Lloyd Prior.

Prior, of Broom Knoll in East Bergholt, was accused of multiple sexual offences against the two women, who were children at the time of the offences, between 2005 and 2013.

He pleaded not guilty and stood trial at Chelmsford Crown Court on 20 January 2025, and a jury found him guilty of 10 charges – three counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, three counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, and two counts of assault of a child under 13 by penetration.

He was sentenced to 12 years in prison at the same court on Wednesday 23 April.

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A convicted sex offender claimed he got a ‘bad email’ when he was caught looking at pornography on a library computer.

Keith Smith, 72, had an iPhone plugged into the computer when he was confronted by someone who saw him viewing images of semi-naked women.

He was sat next to a young girl at the time, Manchester Crown Court heard. After being confronted, he claimed he had ‘received a bad email’. He was later identified through library records and police asked him to produce the phone for analysis. Smith refused.

“He said he had borrowed his friend’s phone to take pictures of the gas and electric meters,” prosecutor Olivia Gatfield said.

Smith, from Levenshulme, admitted breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) imposed in 2011 after he was caught with indecent images of children. One of the conditions stated he must show his internet history on request by the police.

His barrister, Naomi Duckworth said he didn’t own a smartphone, so used a friend’s. He was concerned police would go to his friend ‘gun’s blazing’ so refused to provide their details, she added.

Smith’s behaviour showed ‘poor judgement’, but no charges were brought against him - only for breaching the SHPO - Ms Duckworth added.

Handing him a suspended jail term, Judge Hilary Manley said: “The reason you came to the attention of the police is because you were in a library accessing pornography whilst sitting near a little girl.

“The excuse you gave for not handing over the phone to the police, I find, is not believable. Breaches like this are taken very seriously by the courts.”

Ms Gatfield earlier told the court that on October 28, 2023, a woman was at the Arcadia Library in Levenshulme using a computer, when her attention was drawn to Smith’s screen. On the screen was a woman with her breasts concealed by a plant, she said.

“The defendant was seen scrolling over several photos which were clearly of a sexual nature," the prosecutor said. "He was sitting next to a girl."

The woman confronted Smith. He denied the images were explicit and left. When he was later arrested and interviewed he told officers that while taking pictures of his gas and electric meters he got a ‘sudden urge’ to search for an adult film star.

The court heard he had three convictions for 21 offences, the majority of which were for sex offences.

Defence counsel Ms Duckworth said her client suffered with anxiety and depression. “The defendant explained he did not give the police details of where he got the phone from as he was concerned the police would go in ‘gun’s blazing’,” she added.

A presentence report prepared by the probation service found he had not been open about his behaviour and sought to ‘make excuses’.

Smith, of Stanhope Street, Levenshulme, was handed an eight month jail term suspended for 18 months. He must complete an accredited programme, 15 days of rehabilitation activity requirements and pay £150 court costs.

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A man has been jailed for six years after attacking and sexually assaulting a woman who had been enjoying a night out socialising with friends in Middleton. The victim will also have an indefinite restraining order against her to protect her, and he will be subject to indefinite sex offender notification requirements.

Dewan Gazi (12/07/1980), of Croxdale Walk, Blackley, had previously been found guilty of two counts of sexual assault and one count of section 47 assault at Manchester Crown Court.

Shortly after midnight on Sunday 28 July 2024, the woman was walking home when she was suddenly confronted by Gazi, who grabbed her by the arms and began to touch her over her clothes.

The woman feared for her safety and began to shout for help, as well as punching the offender who continued his attack, including pulling at her shorts.
He then pushed his victim into nearby bushes with a low metal barrier, which she struck and caused her considerable pain.

Around this time, a man and woman in a nearby address heard the commotion and came out to find the man holding his victim on the pavement. After intervening and questioning Gazi, who claimed to be providing help, he ran off and the woman was assisted by the couple.

The man chased Gazi down the street and away from the area, before returning to help.
She was taken to hospital with pain and bruising – as well soreness to her fist where she had punched her attacker.

Following CCTV checks, Gazi’s vehicle was identified as being in the area around the time of the incident, and was later seized by officers as part of their enquiries.

Further CCTV footage showed Gazi working in a takeaway in Middleton, watching his victim walk past, before he ran out to his vehicle and followed her in his car shortly before launching his attack.

He was later arrested and charged with his offences by officers within Rochdale CID.
The man and woman who assisted the victim have since received a bravery award from GMP for their actions, and the judge commended their ‘neighbourhood spirit’ in coming to the victim’s aid and chasing away the attacker.

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A Winchester man who had more than 300 indecent images of children on his mobile phone, has been jailed.

Phillip Peach, 35, was arrested at his home address on Drayton Street on 25 June 2024 after police received information that he had been accessing indecent images of children.

Following his arrest, police examined his digital devices where 308 images were recovered with 43 being graded as Category A – the most serious category.

A further 24 were graded as Category B and 241 as Category C.

Peach had served prison time for similar offences and had previously been handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) by the courts. During the investigation it was found he had breached his SHPO by continuing to communicate with children, deleting data and having electronic devices not registered with police.

He was subsequently charged with three counts of making indecent photographs of children and six counts of breach of a sexual harm prevention order.

Appearing at Winchester Crown Court on 3 March, Peach admitted all of the charges and was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison.