Manchester Crown Court Sentencing Results

Over three years, Aftab Zulfiqar subjected a survivor to mental, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. The survivor reported him in October 2023 through the police LiveChat function, resulting in his arrest.

Police searched a house on Aspinall Crescent in Little Hulton on 14 December 2024 and found a black holdall behind a fridge in the pantry. Inside was a Zoraki Mod 917 handgun with a magazine of ammunition. DNA evidence linked the gun to Samuel Adesanya, and his phone contained messages, voice notes and images suggesting he had knowledge of the firearm.

Christopher Thornton, 25, of Gresham Street, Denton, was employed by prisoners as a 'delivery pilot' to fly drones containing drugs and contraband into HMP Manchester (Strangeways prison). Packages recovered from crashed drones included cocaine, cannabis, ketamine, and nicotine, valued between £12,000 and £28,000 inside the prison due to inflated prices. Incidents occurred around November 2025 and December 2025, involving suspicious vehicles like a Mazda and a white Mini Cooper. Thornton was identified through police enquiries.

In April 2025, Amanda Meadowcroft arrived at Manchester Airport from the Dominican Republic. Border Force officers stopped her and searched her luggage, finding 14 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated value of about £294,000 hidden inside suitcases. She was arrested at the airport and later pleaded guilty to importing cocaine into the UK.

Bradley Couzins orchestrated a scheme to import 14 kilograms of cocaine into the UK through Manchester Airport. Mobile phone evidence showed he directed travel and logistics for the smuggling attempt. After the courier was arrested, he attempted to evade authorities and was arrested in Blackpool in August 2025; during his arrest he tried to destroy evidence by smashing his mobile phone with handcuffs and assaulted an officer.

Matthew Brown, who owns and runs Carr Farm in Milnrow, Rochdale, was convicted of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control that caused injury. In April 2021, a 17-year-old woman walking past the farm on Tunshill Lane was attacked by a Tibetan Mastiff, suffering a large V-shaped wound to her arm. Brown was found guilty on February 5 after a trial and sentenced on March 5.

Mark Whitworth was convicted at Manchester Crown Court of sexual offences against five children as young as seven or eight. The abuse included grooming, sexual assault and rape. He was found guilty of 54 offences, including rape, rape of a child under 13, sexual assault, sexual assault of a child under 13, assault by penetration, and causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Karl Sharples was convicted at Manchester Crown Court of sexual offences against five children as young as seven or eight. The abuse included grooming, sexual assault and rape. He was found guilty of 12 offences, including rape, sexual assault of a child under 13, sexual assault, and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

Firooz Wali Jan pleaded guilty to child cruelty in relation to injuries to the child's hand and neck inflicted with a lighter and an injury to the child's arm.

Alexandra Power, 40, worked as an administrative officer at South Sefton Magistrates Court in Bootle. She illegally accessed confidential information relating to search warrants targeting major organised crime syndicates. An audit showed she had accessed secret files 98 times within two days, and she was found with stolen documents when arrested. Her actions came to light after police arrested a drug trafficker in July 2023 and found confidential court details on his phone. She admitted perverting the course of justice and hacking into computer data.

Cameron Warburton, 30, of Portside Close, Salford, met the victim on a dating app. They exchanged sexual messages, pictures, and videos. The victim provided his phone number and address, expecting sexual relations. Warburton then demanded money for sex, and upon refusal, threatened to share the videos unless paid £250. After being blocked, he continued demands via email, warning the victim he would 'regret it'. Police were called, leading to arrest.

Rachel Blackburn-Stanley, 35, of Rudston Avenue, Moston, partner of Anthony Hunt, helped by driving him to and from the group's drug-storage locations and to conduct two exchanges with Stanley Ainsley. She also drove Anthony Hunt to a safe house flat in Crumpsall where he met Lisa Prescott before police raids on October 4, 2024. The gang's operation involved a £1.8m wholesale drugs racket from March to October 2024.

On April 17, 2025, at about 2pm, Abdulrahman Omar Salim, 19, of no fixed address, was accused by the victim, who was working in his father's convenience store on Cheetham Hill Road, of throwing a rock at the shop window, causing a loud bang. After the accusation, Omar Salim threatened to stab the victim, reached into his jacket, broke free from restraint, and swung a knife, slicing the edge of the victim's hand and finger. Members of the public helped detain him until police arrived. The prosecution could not prove he threw the rock.

Gerald David, 55, of Whittaker Lane, Rochdale, partner of Jennifer Kenworthy, permitted the storage of drugs at their home as part of the enterprise. The group dealt 26 kilos of cocaine, 52 kilos of amphetamine, 154 tablets of MDMA, 390 grams of heroin, and over a kilogram of mixing agent.

Katie McCann, 28, of Benton Street, Harpurhey, stored drugs at her home as part of the enterprise. Police found a substantial amount of heroin worth up to £40,000 and six hydraulic presses during the search. The overall operation dealt 26 kilos of cocaine, 52 kilos of amphetamine, 154 tablets of MDMA, 390 grams of heroin, and over a kilogram of mixing agent.

Jennifer Kenworthy, 54, of Whittaker Lane, Rochdale, along with her partner Gerald David, allowed drugs to be stored at their home. She requested a small amount of the cocaine. The operation handled 26 kilos of cocaine, 52 kilos of amphetamine, 154 tablets of MDMA, 390 grams of heroin, and over a kilogram of mixing agent.

Rebecca Kenworthy, 31, of Whittaker Lane, Rochdale, daughter of Jennifer Kenworthy and in a relationship with Jack Tolley, allowed drugs to be stored at her home. Police found 26 kilos of cocaine in two safes, though she was unaware of the quantity. The enterprise involved 26 kilos of cocaine, 52 kilos of amphetamine, 154 tablets of MDMA, 390 grams of heroin, and over a kilogram of mixing agent.

Alexandra Gregory, 37, of Oswald Street, Oldham, stored drugs at her home. Police discovered cocaine and amphetamine worth up to £100,000. The enterprise involved 26 kilos of cocaine, 52 kilos of amphetamine, 154 tablets of MDMA, 390 grams of heroin, and over a kilogram of mixing agent.

Karla Pukutova hid two knives used in a fatal knife fight between her ex-partner and the other man on Essex Street in Rochdale in the early hours of New Year's Day following a family party. She lied to police, claiming she was in the bathroom during the incident, but was actually outside and witnessed the fight. The knives were hidden behind a radiator in her home but were quickly found by police.

On June 29, 2025, in Middleton near Manchester, Rhys Hicks, high on cocaine after a two-day bender, became aggressive at an acquaintance's home, shoving her against a wall causing her to fall and suffer a panic attack. Later, around 4.45pm, spotted at the Middleton Archer pub in only boxers and trainers, he stripped naked, punched and kicked cars, urinated on a war memorial showing shameful lack of respect to the war dead, then assaulted a motorist with punches and kicks on Manchester Old Road, attempted to steal his car but was stopped by bystanders until police arrived.

Sean Farrell, 52, operated under the username ‘VanillaJerky’ on the EncroChat encrypted messaging system, brokering large-scale cocaine deals at prices up to £39,500 per kilogram and supplying cannabis imported from the USA valued at $1,200 per pound and sold for $3,000. Between March and June 2020, he negotiated large cash deals, arranged collections including one for £5,500, and planned imports from overseas for distribution across the United Kingdom. Warrants were executed at his home in Salford in January 2022, but he had fled to Spain. He was arrested on September 2, 2024, when stopped in a Mercedes C Class with Spanish plates on Stretford Road in Old Trafford, initially giving false details.

Jamie McGrath, 22, of Lowland Road, Woodsmoor, Stockport, subjected his former partner to a six-year campaign of abuse starting from when they met at age 16. He locked her in her flat without access to her phone as punishment, created an atmosphere of intimidation and violence, threatened her, belittled her, isolated her, and tracked her whereabouts. Incidents included pinning her against a wall and punching her in the face after a Halloween party argument, bending her fingers back and breaking one, and dunking her head repeatedly into a bath while holding it under water, causing her to fear for her life. He also squeezed her neck, making her struggle to breathe and believe he would kill her. The relationship ended in 2024 when the victim reported to police. The abuse continued to impact her post-arrest.

Rizwan Afzal engaged in controlling and coercive behaviour towards his partner from 2017, escalating in 2020. He smoked cannabis for psoriatic arthritis pain relief, which negatively affected his mental health, leading to anger and accusations of her drug use. Incidents included holding her by the arms during a 2018 Blackpool argument, biting her in another argument, and in January 2022, tracking her to a Cheadle hotel where he found her ex-partner wearing his coat, called her a 'cheating s**g', and accused her of infidelity. The relationship ended in February 2023 when she called police; he fled but attempted constant contact. Victim felt trapped, like a puppet, and fearful of being watched or followed.

Luke Wood, 29, a ketamine addict, attempted to smuggle 20kg of cannabis, valued at £61,350, through Manchester Airport on October 11, 2024, after arriving from Bangkok via Doha. He refused to unlock his suitcase initially but admitted it was full of cannabis, claiming he was forced due to substantial drug debts and threats to his family's lives.