Manchester Crown Court Sentencing Results

Explore 663 verdicts at Manchester Crown Court (Manchester). Updated with the latest court outcomes.

Date Not Specified 13 cases

Paul Mcguffog

Indecent assault *

Sentence

6 years imprisonment

Paul McGuffog, a former police officer and cricket coach from Stretford, Greater Manchester, was convicted of historic sexual offences against a girl under 16 at a youth centre he helped run. He groomed her by providing free crisps and coffee, then drove her to secluded areas where he sexually abused her over several weeks. The jury convicted him of six counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted buggery, plus misconduct in public office. The victim stated the abuse had a profound and lasting impact, leaving her with depression and trauma.

Convicted of six counts of indecent assault, one count of attempted buggery, and misconduct in public office. Ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for life. Judge commented on his 'dark secret' hidden behind his respectable service record.

1 Jan 0001

Rachel Fenton

Child sex offences *

Sentence

10 years imprisonment

Rachel Fenton, previously known as Richard Fenton, of Wythenshawe, Manchester, admitted 21 child sex offences including seven counts of attempting to incite a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, five counts of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, one count of causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, and two counts of attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity, plus a drug offence. Indecent images of children, including a large amount of child sexual abuse photos, were found on Fenton's devices. Arrested in November 2020 in Wythenshawe, Manchester, on suspicion of arranging a child sexual offence, possession of a class A controlled drug and possession of cannabis. Continued offending while on bail and arrested again in January 2021.

Pleaded guilty to 21 child sex offences and a drug offence. Issued with a sexual harm prevention order and required to sign the sex offenders register for life.

1 Jan 0001

Raza Laskar

Sexual activity with a child *

Sentence

7 years imprisonment

Dr Raza Laskar, a 32-year-old junior doctor specialising in paediatrics from Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, exploited his professional affinity with children to groom and abuse vulnerable young boys both in person and online. The case began when police detected 1,605 indecent images of children uploaded from his IP address between Christmas Day 2013 and January 2014. In May 2014, Greater Manchester Police executed a warrant at his home and found over 1.2 million indecent images, along with chat logs and videos documenting sexual activity with a child whom he had taken to a hotel room he booked. Laskar pleaded guilty to 31 charges, including sexual activity with a child and possession of abusive images. The court heard that his occupation and knowledge of how to engage with children were significantly aggravating factors.

Pleaded guilty to 31 charges, including sexual activity with a child and possession of indecent images. A detective described his position as a paediatric doctor as a significantly aggravating factor.

1 Jan 0001

Ravinder Singh

Conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration *

Sentence

27 months imprisonment

Ravinder Singh was the sole trustee of a charity used as a cover to facilitate illegal entry of Indian nationals into the UK. The charity sponsored individuals as ministers of religion, while funds were circulated through the charity's bank accounts to create the appearance of legitimate donations. Singh received large sums of money from migrants to assist their entry and continued stay. The Home Office opened a criminal investigation in 2013, and four individuals were arrested in November 2013. Singh was charged and admitted three counts of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration part-way through his trial at Manchester Crown Court. He was sentenced to 27 months imprisonment.

Admitted three charges of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration halfway through trial. Was the sole trustee of the charity, worked as a mortgage advisor, and carried out genuine charitable works. Disqualified from being a charity trustee by the Charity Commission.

1 Jan 0001

Romeo Smalley

Sexual assault of a child under 13 *

Sentence

3 years and 3 months imprisonment

Romeo Smalley, aged 20 from Oldham, sexually assaulted a boy under the age of 13 by tying him up and filming the acts for YouTube videos. The abuse came to light after a school headteacher recognised the victim in two disturbing videos posted online. In the videos, lasting around five to six minutes, the boy was bound with tape and attempting to escape. Smalley encouraged viewers to 'like and subscribe' and appeared sexually aroused. He had groomed the boy by giving him a mobile phone to communicate via Snapchat, instructing him not to tell his parents, and promising payment. Police found other concerning videos on his devices. Smalley initially denied the assault, claiming the videos were a 'game for a laugh', but later pleaded guilty at Manchester Crown Court. The victim's mother stated the grooming was devious and the boy believed he had done something wrong. Smalley was sentenced to three years and three months in prison and placed on the sex offender register for life.

Pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13. Judge Tom Gilbart described the actions as 'very serious', noting evidence of grooming and manipulation. Smalley was 18 at the time of the offences, had no previous convictions, and was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Placed on the sex offender register for life.

1 Jan 0001

Ross Mckay

Money laundering *

Sentence

7 years' imprisonment

Conveyancing solicitor Ross McKay, of Wilmslow, Cheshire, working for Parker Birds law practice in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, carried out conveyances on a 'no questions asked' basis for 81 illicit property deals. This helped buy-to-let landlord Scott Rowbotham of Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, build a £10.8m portfolio of 88 properties in the North West of England using fraudulent mortgage applications by lying about his income, with assistance from Tameside’s criminal underworld including Billy Black.

Unanimously found guilty by jury of three counts of money laundering after trial. Judge Timothy Smith highlighted breaches of solicitor duties, turning a blind eye to criminal property, and assisting organised crime.

1 Jan 0001

Rowell Scott

Possession with intent to supply Class A and B drugs and money laundering *

Sentence

2 years 8 months imprisonment

On 15 February 2024, GMP's Challenger team raided Rowell Scott's property on Clively Avenue, Salford, following intelligence. Officers discovered around 300 THC-filled vapes, crack cocaine, heroin, drug paraphernalia including scales and bags, and £1,867 in cash. Scott admitted having cannabis in a wardrobe and stated he had been caught red-handed.

Pleaded guilty to money laundering and possession with intent to supply Class A and B drugs. Told officers 'I’ve been caught red-handed' after cannabis was found.

1 Jan 0001

Rosario Bellardita Defelice

Child sex offences *

Sentence

24 years imprisonment

Rosario Bellardita Defelice, 52, from Salford, systematically sexually abused and raped two young girls over several years. He first sexually assaulted one girl and threatened her silence. He targeted a second girl, plying her with alcohol, giving gifts, sending explicit messages, and showing pornography. He used manipulation, including bringing lubricant and baby wipes, covering car seats with bin bags, and comparing rape to 'police breaking down doors'. He pleaded guilty to 39 offences including sexual assault on a child under 13, attempted rape of a child under 13, rape of a child under 16, and causing a child to engage in sexual activity. The victims were left traumatised, one developed suicidal thoughts. Defelice was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court to 24 years' custody with an extended licence of 8 years.

Pleaded guilty to 39 child sex offences. Extended licence period of 8 years, to serve two-thirds in custody before licence. Placed on Sex Offenders Register for life. Judge Manley: 'You destroyed, terrorised and corrupted the childhoods of your victims.' Likely deportation upon release.

1 Jan 0001

Rn

Grievous Bodily Harm *

Sentence

21 months suspended for 24 months

RN repeatedly stabbed the victim with a broken glass bottle, captured on CCTV. Charged with s18 but pleaded to s20.

Defended RN who was charged with a s18 after repeatedly stabbing the victim with a broken glass bottle. The Crown accepted a plea to s20 despite the prosecution witnesses being supportive of the prosecution and CCTV capturing the incident.

1 Jan 0001

Rod Blyth

Making indecent photographs of children *

Sentence

12 months imprisonment suspended for 2 years

Rod Blyth, a former Liberal Democrat councillor for Shaw ward in Oldham, was convicted of making indecent photographs of children. The offences did not involve council-issued equipment. He pleaded guilty in May 2019 and was sentenced in December 2019 at Manchester Crown Court. The court imposed a 12-month prison term suspended for two years, a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement, a five-year sexual harm prevention order, and placed him on the sex offender register for ten years. Blyth had resigned from the council in December 2017 amid the police investigation.

Pleaded guilty to three offences of making indecent photographs of children. Placed on the sex offender register for 10 years and subjected to a sexual harm prevention order. Also ordered to complete a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

1 Jan 0001

Richard Burdett

Importation of firearms and ammunition *

Sentence

18 years in prison

Richard Burdett, 35, from Liverpool, was convicted of arranging the importation of 16 pistols and automatic weapons, along with live ammunition and sound moderators, smuggled from the Netherlands into the UK via corrupt truck drivers. Weapons hidden in HGV lorry found by Border Force at Dover and Killingholme Docks in early 2018. Linked by DNA and fingerprints. Arrested in UK but fled to Netherlands on bail, extradited back in July 2019.

Convicted of importation of firearms and ammunition and possession of fraudulent UK passports.

1 Jan 0001

Ryan Banham

Supply and production of drugs *

Sentence

5 years and 8 months imprisonment

Ryan Banham was filmed singing Dolly Parton's '9 to 5' while tending to a cannabis farm at his home on Digby Road, Rochdale. Police raided the property on June 6 last year and uncovered large amounts of cannabis and cocaine along with an advanced growing setup including lights, fans and watering equipment. Further evidence of drug trafficking was found on his phones. He was arrested again in December and additional drugs and paraphernalia were seized.

Pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine; being concerned in the supply of cannabis; possession with intent to supply cannabis; and producing cannabis.

1 Jan 0001

Scott Freeth

Sexual offences *

Sentence

27 years imprisonment

Scott Freeth, a man from Tameside, Greater Manchester, was sentenced to 27 years in prison for a string of sex offences against young girls. Dubbed 'the worst kind of predator' by the court, Freeth's crimes involved grooming and assaulting multiple underage victims. Greater Manchester Police's investigation began after reports of suspicious behaviour, leading to arrests and searches that uncovered evidence of abuse. At Manchester Crown Court, the trial exposed Freeth's systematic targeting of girls, using manipulation to perpetrate the offences. Freeth committed sexual assaults on several young girls in Tameside. The offences included grooming via online and in-person methods. Victim impact statements detailed lasting trauma.

Described as 'the worst kind of predator' by the court. Barred from working with children and placed on sex offenders' register for life.

1 Jan 0001

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Offence names marked with an asterisk (*) reflect descriptions used in media reporting and may not correspond to the formal legal charge or indictment. Sentencing details are as reported and may be subject to subsequent appeal, variation, or correction by the courts.

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Crown Square, Manchester M3 3FL, Manchester, M3 3FL, United Kingdom

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About Manchester Crown Court

Manchester Crown Court, located in Manchester, is a Crown Court that handles serious criminal cases including murder, rape, robbery, and other indictable offences. With 663 sentencing records in our database, it is one of the Crown Courts serving the Manchester area. Crown Courts sit with a judge and jury, and have the power to impose the full range of sentences available under UK law.

The court can be found at Crown Square, Manchester M3 3FL, M3 3FL.

Accessibility provisions at this court include wheelchair accessible entrance.

For enquiries about cases heard at this court, you can contact the court by telephone on +441619541702 or visit the official court website for further information.

All sentencing information published on this page has been sourced from publicly-available records and verified by our editorial team. If you believe any information is inaccurate or should be removed, you can submit a removal request directly from the relevant listing above.