A company whose director claimed a haul of thousands of illegal cigarettes were for ‘personal use’ has been fined £16,000. 

At a hearing held at Manchester Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Thursday, March 24) Moxom Manchester Limited, of Dagenham Road, Rusholme, was charged with breaches of Tobacco and Related Products Regulations, as well as breaches of Trade Mark Regulations. 

This follows an investigation into its business practices by Manchester City Council’s Trading Standards Team. 

In the run up to this conviction, seizures of illicit tobacco were made from this business on two separate occasions – on November 12, 2020, and June 12, 2021. This was the result of intelligence gathering which suggested illegal tobacco was being sold at the premises. 

On the first occasion more than 11,000 cigarettes and 900g of rolling tobacco was found behind the counter of the premises, as well as in boxes and a rucksack. Brands seized included Richmond, Lambert and Butler, Mayfair and Amber Leaf.  

When interviewed the company’s director claimed he was out of the country when the seizure was made, and the member of staff working in the premises was not actually employed by the company. 

On the second occasion a tobacco dog assisting Trading Standards detected 600g of rolling tobacco and more than 2,000 illegal cigarettes stored behind the counter and from a hidden compartment built into the wall. 

When questioned again by Trading Standards, the company director claimed the items seized were for personal use and had been bought from someone who came into the shop offering tobacco for sale. 

No representative from the company attended the court hearing, and guilt was proved in absence, with the company ordered to pay a fine of £16,000. 

It was also ordered to pay costs of £2,500, and pay a victim surcharge of £250. 

Councillor Rabnawaz Akbar, Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, said:

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“The scale of the number of cigarettes seized from this business proves just how big a problem the illegal tobacco trade is. Illegal tobacco has proven links to creating new smokers, as well as acting as a stumbling block for people trying to quit. 

“Closing off avenues where they are sold is not just a matter of enforcing the law, it is a way of protecting public health. 

“I am very grateful for the diligence and hard work of our Trading Standards Team and Legal Team in bringing this case to a successful conclusion.” 

Detectives leading a murder investigation following the fatal stabbing of Kennie Carter have released CCTV footage of a man riding a bike that they think could be a witness to the Stretford attack.

On the evening of Saturday 22 January this year, 16-year-old Kennie was fatally stabbed on Thirlmere Avenue as he walked back towards his home.

Our Major Incident Team have since embarked on a wide-ranging inquiry into his death, which has seen 14 teenagers arrested so far - with 10 remaining on bail - and the analysis of hundreds of hours of CCTV footage which has helped build an increasingly-developing picture of the evening's events.

Video trawls have now uncovered footage of what appears to be a man riding a bike  on Thirlmere Avenue at 6.37pm and we believe he could’ve been an important witness to the incident itself or the surrounding moments.
We are keen to stress he is not wanted in connection with the murder investigation but we want him to get in touch with us so we can understand what he may have seen on the night.

Anyone who thinks they may be the man on the footage, or may know who is, is urged to make contact with us by contacting the major incident hotline on 0161 856 9908 quoting Operation Sandpiper.

Any footage or images from the night should be submitted to our online portal here: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/06GMP22S43-PO1

A public charity appeal has today (Thurs 24 March) been launched to help support Ukrainians fleeing the war in their country who come to Manchester.  

The MCR Ukraine Welcome Fund will fund charities and voluntary sector groups providing assistance - such as small grants for essential items, and advice - to families and individuals relocating to the city.  

It will be run by the We Love Manchester charity (the Lord Mayor of Manchester’s charity) in partnership with Manchester City Council and every penny raised will go towards supporting Ukrainian evacuees in the city. The Council have kicked off the fund with a donation of £50,000.  

The Fund has already identified Caritas (Salford Diocese) and Europia as charity partners with considerable experience of supporting people arriving in the city with next to nothing and further partners are being brought in.  

Council leader Cllr Bev Craig said:

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“No one watching the horrific scenes unfolding in Ukraine following the Russian invasion can fail to be moved by the plight of the Ukrainian people. Manchester stands in solidarity with them and we are ready to play our part, together with towns and cities across Europe, in welcoming evacuees escaping the conflict and the humanitarian disaster it is creating.  

“While some people will even be opening their homes to arriving Ukrainians, we know not everyone is in a position to do that. But by donating to this fund you can show you care by helping to provide practical help and support right here in Manchester to those escaping danger and starting to rebuild their lives.”  

 

Council chief executive Joanne Roney OBE said:

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“I’m glad the Council has been able to make the first donation. We know that Mancunians have big hearts and a proud tradition of hospitality and compassion.  They will doubtless be generous in helping to welcome Ukrainian families to our city.”

Manchester City FC will be promoting the campaign on men's and women's matchdays at both the Etihad Stadium and Academy Stadium. 

Manchester City Council is working with other services to co-ordinate planning for the arrival of Ukrainian refugees under Government schemes, including the recently-launched Homes for Ukraine scheme which enables UK residents to host Ukrainian evacuees. 

The 40m Tower of Light landmark near Manchester Central Convention Centre, part of the city’s Civic Quarter Heat Network, will be illuminated blue and yellow – the colours of the Ukrainian flag – to mark the launch of the Fund.  

To donate to the MCR Ukraine Welcome Fund visit https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/MCRUkraineWelcome

Shootings have plummeted by a staggering 92% in north Manchester in the past year after police carried out an assault on the city's organised crime groups, seeing dozens of arrests made and significant seizures of drugs and firearms.

Specialist officers from Central Park station have spearheaded the offensive with support from local detectives and neighbourhood teams continuing to take the fight to criminals operating in the north of the city.

Targeted work led by our dedicated intelligence development team (IDT) to tackle a spike in shootings in early 2021 has led to reported firearms discharges dropping from 26 in 2020-21 to just two in the last 12 months - with none since last July.

During the same time period, a total of 33 firearms have been taken from the streets of north Manchester - up from 29 the previous year - demonstrating officers' continued drive to use intelligence to tackle the possession of potentially lethal weapons.

Working alongside detectives from the Greater Manchester Police Serious Organised Crime Group (SOCG) and firearms investigation team, the action has seen an increase in proactive disruption activity with the execution of 72 drugs warrants, 58 firearms raids, and over 200 stop-searches resulting in 191 arrests.

Weapons recovered include revolvers, shotguns, converted blank-firing guns, knuckle-dusters and air refiles.

This included the seizure of a loaded gun at an address in the Bradford area of the city last month that also saw a large quantity of class A drugs taken for forensic assessment; five teenagers were arrested and remain under investigation while officers continue their enquiries into the find.

Investigators have also been focused on dismantling the source of some of the city's gang disputes - namely the cultivation, use, and supply of class A and B drugs.

A noticeable increase in aggravated burglaries last summer in places such as Cheetham Hill, Crumpsall and Blackley was seeing groups of men targeting addresses armed with weapons and demanding drugs.

It became apparent that the offenders in these incidents were identifying locations where they believed cannabis farms were being grown, and were going there to threaten and steal the farms from rival organised crime groups.

On some occasions, these gangs went to the wrong addresses which saw innocent people having their homes invaded and being threatened with weapons.

Police received a report of this happening a month ago in Crumpsall when a home of a family of four - including a child - was broken into by masked men armed with weapons who were demanding drugs before making off after realising they were at the wrong address.

Incidents like these are completely intolerable and enquiries into this are ongoing.

GMP have been committed to tackling this following the introduction of Operation Download in June 2021 where we embarked on a blitz of 13 raids in the first two weeks as part of a crackdown on sophisticated cannabis grows officers believed were subjects of such disputes.

A total of 30 warrants have now been executed, approximately 7.5million's worth of plants have been destroyed and 125 suspected farms dismantled.

So far 24 men have been charged offences relating to the cultivation of cannabis and officers are keen to continue to confront suspected organised criminals operating in north Manchester.

Police take concerns about suspected criminal activity very seriously and routinely take action on the back of information the public give them.

Details of suspicions in your area such be reported to police online, if able, or via 101.

Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Following recent tragic incidents of violence in Bury, our neighbourhood officers have been working closely alongside partners at Bury Council to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour within Bury town centre.

Operation Heartbeat forms part of this multi-agency response and this dedicated operation will see an increase of high-visibility officers, including specialist officers, within the town centre over the coming weeks.

These officers, and colleagues from partner agencies, will actively be engaging with members of the public to provide reassurance and address any concerns or worries they may have. There will also be a particular focus on youth engagement and local authority youth services have already been conducting youth outreach work in and around Bury Town centre whilst on patrol with our neighbourhood officers and staff from Bury College.

Officers and partners will also be working with The Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit - a dedicated unit that brings together the expertise of police, local authorities, youth services, health, education and schools, as well as other criminal justice partners to tackle serious violence.

This work will include collaboration with local colleges and schools on knife crime awareness and delivering inputs and events to young people alongside partners. Our neighbourhood officers are working in close partnership with Team Oasis - a youth navigator's service - to work with young people at risk of being victims of violent crime.

Chief Superintendent Chris Hill, of GMP's Bury district, said:

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"We're all deeply saddened by the recent incidents across Bury and our thoughts remain with the family and loved ones of those affected.

"I want to reassure the community that we are continuing to work closely with all our partner agencies to ensure we keep Bury and our wider community safe and free from harm. Recent incidents in Bury and across Greater Manchester have no doubt caused great concern and worry and I want to stress that we are here to listen and address those concerns.

"Knife crime can have devastating consequence and the public want to see police officers on the streets and challenging those who are causing these issues. We will be stripping policing back to basics and doing just that by increasing our visibility on our streets, using stop and search powers, engaging with young people on the streets and in schools, and ensuring the wider community are listened to.

"I would urge anyone within the community that has information, or suspects someone is carrying a weapon or is involved in criminal behaviour, to report it to us or to contact Crimestoppers.

"I also directly appeal to those carrying weapons to surrender them in our Forever Amnesty bins which are located at 12 police stations across Greater Manchester. There will be no questions asked and could potentially save further lives."

 

Councillor Tamoor Tariq, Bury Council’s cabinet member for children’s services, young people and skills, said:

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“We have all been deeply concerned by recent incidents and the tragic death of a young man. Any injury or loss of life is one too many, and our teams will be working with partners including the police to address youth violence and knife crime and reassure the public that we are doing our utmost to keep our communities safe.”

As part of our #ForeverAmnesty campaign to 'bin the knife' we remind the public that there is at least one amnesty bin at a police station in each Greater Manchester district.

We appeal for people to do the right thing, look out for each other and bin the knife; you won't be judged but you might just safe a life.

The Greater Manchester Air Quality Administration Committee is set to soon begin the process of reviewing the evidence and options for a new Clean Air Plan that can improve public health without hurting jobs and financially crippling businesses when it meets on Wednesday 23rd March.

The committee will consider a range of options as Greater Manchester works with government to deliver a new plan by 1 July 2022, to bring harmful nitrogen dioxide levels on the local road network within legal limits as soon as possible and by 2026 at the latest.

Government withdrew the original legal direction in February requiring Greater Manchester to implement a charging category C Clean Air Zone. This came after concerns about financial hardship for local people and the availability of compliant vehicles were raised by the Mayor of Greater Manchester and Greater Manchester local authority leaders after Protest group RethinkGM launched a campaign over what they claim will be highly damaging charges which will force many smaller businesses across Greater Manchester to close.

Charges for driving some higher polluting commercial vehicles in the Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone had been due to go live from 30 May 2022 but that will now not happen.

The committee will discuss how the new plan can be informed through engagement with stakeholder groups and vehicle owners in the coming weeks.

Further public consultation will also be considered alongside the new plan.

A BMW failed to stop for police on Rochdale Road East, Heywood, at about 11:45pm on Sunday 20 March 2022.

A short pursuit took place and the BMW crashed into a building on Rochdale Road East.

Two men - aged 27 and 18 - were treated at the scene by police officers and then by paramedics. Both males are in a serious condition in hospital.

The incident has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Anyone with information or dashcam footage should call GMP's Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 0161 856 4741 quoting incident log 3178 of 20/03/22.

Information can also be reported online or by using the LiveChat function at www.gmp.police.uk. If you can't report online, call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Officers were called around 9.55am on Sunday 20 March 2022 to Church Road, Urmston to a report of a collision involving a motorbike.

Enquiries have since established that the motorbike - a Yahama MT-07 ABS - had been travelling along the road in tandem with two other motorbikes when the rider fell from the vehicle into the carriageway.

An investigation is ongoing to determine how he came to fall but at this stage it is believed he may have been in collision with another rider in tandem.

The rider - a 33-year-old man - was taken to hospital but has since sadly died as a result of his injuries.

His next of kin have been informed.

Sergeant Matt Waggett of GMP's Serious Collision Investigation Unit said:

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"A man has very sadly died as a result of this collision and our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this incredibly difficult time.

"No arrests have been made at this stage of the investigation but we are currently appealing for anyone who may have been in the area at the time, or witnessed the three motorcycles or the collision, to come forward and assist us with our investigation.

"We are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have dash-cam, mobile phone or CCTV footage so I would encourage anyone who was in the area to check their devices as they may have unknowingly captured vital evidence."

 

Anyone with information should contact our Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 0161 856 4741 or 101 quoting incident 939 of 20/03/22.

Alternatively, details can be passed via our LiveChat at www.gmp.police.uk or via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Detectives in Wigan have charged a man from Leigh with robbery following a specialist strike at an address in south Manchester on Friday.

Leon Sharples (20), of Lord Street, has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Wigan and Leigh Magistrates' Court this morning (Monday 21 March).

He will stand accused of robbery, actual bodily harm, and possession of a bladed article relating to an incident on Hawthorn Grove, Leigh, on Saturday 19 February.

Sharples has also been charged with the assault of an emergency worker after an officer was injured following his arrest at a property in Chorlton on Friday 19 March.

A 20-year-old man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder has been bailed pending further enquiries.
 

Prague, Czech Republic – 18 March 2022 - A humanitarian mission launched within 24 hours of the conflict breaking out in Ukraine is delivering thousands of boxes of essential items and collecting refugees at the Ukraine/Poland border to bring them to safety in the Czech Republic, Poland and Switzerland.  

Freedom Boxes has been created by Stuart Watkins, who also owns a software company which has offices in Prague and Cambridge. When the conflict began, Stuart, his family, and his team set about to do something to deliver help and provide hope to those affected by the invasion. With Freedom Boxes, the team has created an immediate way to directly help those in need. 

The team is made up of people from the UK and across the Central and Eastern European region, including Russia and Ukraine, who have pulled together to prepare, pack, and deliver Freedom Boxes.  

The Freedom Boxes are delivered across the border directly to those in need – in bunkers and war zones - with the team’s drivers risking their lives on every trip.  

Two of the four people working on the project in Ukraine are Stuart’s team members and they are helping deal with the coordination of getting people to the border and out of the areas under siege. 

Stuart Watkins, founder of Freedom Boxes, said:

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“During war, it is always the vulnerable who suffer the most. We are dropping off truckloads of Freedom Boxes for distribution to those who need them and bringing Ukrainian refugees to safety. 

“As a private company located in Prague and with colleagues in Ukraine, we had the ability to mobilise our assets, people, and connections very quickly to get up and running and begin helping. Larger organisations are less agile and take longer to mobilise, whereas Freedom Boxes provides a way for people to have a much more immediate and direct impact. 

“In just two weeks since the war began, we have already delivered over 450 Freedom Boxes and transported over 70 refugees to safety. We will continue to do whatever we can to get essential items into Ukraine while getting as many people as we can out and away from danger.” 

“As the humanitarian crisis worsens, bordering countries are filling up with refugees. They are having to travel further afar which can add days onto their journeys. The Freedom Buses are helping solve this problem.” 

 

With their tech background, Stuart and his team have been able to quickly build solutions to utilise their assets for the greater good, with QR codes to help understand what people need and tracking devices to verify receipt of items. 

Visit https://www.freedom-boxes.com to purchase a Freedom Bus ticket for someone fleeing Ukraine or choose from a range of Freedom Boxes tailormade for families, children, and the heroes who have taken up arms to defend their country.  

Children who want to let families and children who are victims of war in Ukraine know they are thinking about them are uploading messages of hope at https://www.messagesofhope.uk – the messages will be delivered directly to Ukrainian families via Freedom Boxes. Children everywhere are encouraged to upload their messages of hope.  

For further information, please visit: https://www.freedom-boxes.com  

Freedom Buses evacuating Ukrainian refugees / Essential Freedom Boxes being delivered  

Visit https://www.freedom-boxes.com to enable more deliveries and to bring more Ukrainians to safety 

A gunman and his two associates have been jailed after Manchester detectives uncovered footage of a drive-by shooting captured on CCTV that saw an innocent man's car damaged in the crossfire.

The incident in the Harpurhey area of the city in broad daylight in the middle of January 2021 saw two cars driving in tandem at speed onto Briscoe Lane, where a man can be seen leaning out of the backseat window firing a gun at the car he and two other men were chasing.

Enquiries were conducted by investigators from our Central Park CID after a call was made to us from a man whose car was struck by a stray bullet when he was driving home from work - one of two shots that we believe were fired.

Shocking CCTV showed the drive-by shooting in Harpurhey in January 2021 - thankfully no one was physically injured

Following a trawl of CCTV in the local area, we discovered footage from the afternoon of the incident (Tuesday 19 January 2021) that showed Sean Cowie (32) hanging out the side of a dark grey BMW X5 pointing a gun at a black VW Golf that his associate Dean Urey (39) was pursuing.

Hours of meticulous work followed to identify the men involved and we arrested Cowie, Urey, Paul Ryan (43) to question them about their role in the incident.

While searching Ryan's address on Ashton Road East, Oldham, we seized a shotgun from one of the bedrooms that we know wasn’t used in the incident but have been able to ensure it's been removed from the streets and he's now been punished for the prohibited possession of the weapon.

It was one of a number of discharges that occurred in the north of the city in early 2021, but detectives from our City of Manchester North division along with our Serious and Organised Crime Firearms Investigation Team (SOC FIT) have relentlessly tackled gun crime and seen a 92% reduction, with just two confirmed incidents reported in the last 12 months; compared to 26 the previous year.

Jailed top-left to right: Cowie, Urey, and Ryan; Cowie (bottom) is seen pointing the gun out of the back window of the car

Unfortunately, no firearm could be linked to the shooting and no one in the VW Golf were willing to support a prosecution, but Cowie, Ryan and Urey all eventually pleaded guilty to the offences we accused them of due to the overwhelming evidence presented to them at court.

At Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court today (Friday 18 March) all three men were sentenced to a total of over 17 years behind bars.

Shooter Cowie, of Ashton Road East, Oldham, was handed five years and seven months behind bars after being convicted of conspiracy with intent to cause fear or violence offence.

Ryan received a six-and-a-half year sentence for possession of a shotgun without a license and conspiracy with intent to cause fear or violence offence.

Urey, of Greaves Road, Failsworth, was ordered to serve five years and four months for admitting conspiracy with intent to cause fear or violence offence.

Detective Inspector Claire Moss, Senior Investigating Officer for Op Accentor, said:

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"The streets of north Manchester are much safer today now that Sean Cowie, Paul Ryan and Dean Urey are behind bars and unable to embark on any further reckless and potentially life-threatening acts of violence in our communities.

"We never established what this was all about, but what we uncovered from the CCTV of this attack was shocking to say the least, and it is quite clear from the fact an innocent man's car was struck that this easily could’ve ended with somebody being seriously - if not fatally - injured.

"In the moments preceding the shooting, we can see plenty of daytime traffic coming and going through Briscoe Lane - including a woman pushing a pram - in what was a busy area so close to a local primary school in the middle of the school day. Anyone could’ve been seriously hurt here.

"There were a number of firearms incidents in the north of the city at the start of 2021 and we understand and share the concern that the public feel when these incidents happen so close to their doorstep; however, we've put a lot of effort and resources into disrupting and tackling those individuals we believe are involved in gun crime and have seen a significant drop in incidents since.

"Our investigation team worked meticulously on this case and I want to particularly pay tribute to the dedication and tenacity of DS Charlotte Quinn, DS Shauna Hayden and DC Florence Lowe who all worked diligently to ensure that these three men are now where they deserve to be.

"We are clear when we say that gun crime in Manchester is a massive priority for us and we will do all we can to investigate and prosecute anyone involved in the possession, distribution, or use of firearms on our streets and ensure that they will face the consequences of their extremely dangerous actions."

 

A dangerous driver, who failed to stop after colliding with a woman in Wythenshawe, has been jailed after being tracked down by our serious collision investigators.

Joshua Hartley (32), of Oak Drive, Perth, was sentenced yesterday (Thursday 17 March) to three years and four months in prison after previously admitting causing serious injury to 66-year-old Valerie Sandham by dangerously driving on Altrincham Road in August 2020.

Manchester Crown Court heard how Hartley had sped at speeds of 40-50mph in a 30-zone in his white BMW around 9am on Saturday 22 August 2020 when he went through a red light and struck Valerie as she crossed the road at a pelican crossing after getting off a bus.

While members of the public rushed to Valerie's aid, Hartley is said by witnesses to have stopped momentarily and looked at the scene of the incident, before proceeding to drive off.

Meanwhile, Valerie was taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary with serious injuries where she remained there for a few months before being discharged.

Sadly, she tested positive for COVID-19 in February 2021 and passed away a short time later with medical complications, believed to be, caused by the collision.

A long and meticulous investigation by our Serious Collision Investigation Unit continued as we pursued to get justice for Valerie and her family, before we were ultimately able to locate and arrest Hartley as our prime suspect in October 2021 where he went on to give a 'no comment' interview.

Our officers concluded the interview by remarking on Hartley's apparent lack of remorse or compassion for what he had done, before we later charged him for causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

After speaking to several witnesses and trawling through CCTV footage, we had compiled enough evidence to compel Hartley to plead guilty to the charge he was faced with, before he was yesterday sentenced to serve three years and four months in custody.

Sentencing, Judge Conrad, commended members of the public for helping Valerie at the scene and assisting the police with their enquiries.

HH Judge Conrad also commended the police for their diligent work investigating what was described as a difficult investigation made more difficult by the actions of Hartley.

Sergeant Andrew Page, of our SCIU, said:

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"This case was particularly traumatic given Valerie's fight and bravery shown after this collision before ultimately the injuries she had suffered were just too serious for her to continue.

"This is in contrast with the cowardice and remorselessness of Joshua Hartley who not only failed to remain at the scene of the collision after speeding through a red light, but proceeded to evade police for over a year before we ultimately traced him and questioned him about this tragic incident.

"We saw no sign of compassion from Hartley when we questioned him, and it was only when he was presented with the overwhelming evidence in court that he eventually succumbed to what he had done.

"I want to thank everyone involved in this investigation to ensure that ultimately Hartley is where he deserves to be for the damage he has caused ever since that fateful morning in August 2020.

"I hope now Valerie's family have some closure from this ordeal and I'd like to pay tribute to her family and friends who have been - and will continue to be - left devastated by the events of that day."

 

At around 9.25pm on Wednesday 16 March 2022, we received a report that a shot had been fired at a window of a property on Clement Royds Street.

Enquiries have established that, at around 9.15pm, a male passenger got out of a car, shot at the window then got back in before the car pulled away.

Two men, aged 22 and 28, have been arrested on suspicion of firearms offences. They remain in police custody for questioning.

Detective Sergeant Rick Mills, of GMP's Rochdale district, said:

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"Though two suspects are in custody, our investigation is continuing and, as part of that, we are trying to track the car involved - which we believe is a grey Audi TT.

"I appeal to anyone with information, particularly about the whereabouts of the car, to contact us or Crimestoppers. We'd also like to hear from anyone who has dash cam footage from the area surrounding Clement Royds Street between 9pm and 9.30pm last night.

"We are aware of the impact this news will have but, though our investigation is in the early stages, we do not believe there is any threat to the wider community. Extra officers have, however, been deployed for reassurance."

 

Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 4668 or gmp.police.uk quoting 3055 16/03/22. Information can be shared anonymously via the independent charity - Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

24-year-old Alisha Apostoloff-Boyarin, from Ashton-under-Lyne, was reported missing in early February 2022, although she hasn't been seen since January 2022. A missing persons investigation was subsequently launched.

Following a number of lines of enquiry, a 59 year-old man has since been arrested on suspicion of murder and was bailed yesterday evening (16 March).  

Senior Investigating Officer, DCI Andrew Naismith, said:

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"Although Alisha has not yet been located, following a number of enquiries we do believe that she has come to serious harm.

"However, the investigation is still on-going and we are not in a position to confirm any further details at this stage. We believe Alisha travelled to Durham and we have officers in that area today conducting further enquiries.

"I would urge anyone with information, or anyone who may have seen Alisha or who may have CCTV/dashcam footage since she went missing in January, to please contact police, as the smallest bit of information may help us to piece together what has happened to Alisha.

"Alisha's next of kin has been informed of the update".

 

You can send information to us through our online portal here: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/06GMP22G11-PO1 or by calling GMPs Major Incident team on 0161 856 6777, or by using our LiveChat service on our website, www.gmp.police.uk quoting log number 280 of 25/09/202.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Today (17 March 2022) Michael McGrath (04/10/1951) of Silkstone Crescent, Sheffield, and Stuart Kelly (02/03/1969) of East Park Road, Halifax, have pleaded guilty at Westminster Magistrate's Court, following an investigation carried out by Greater Manchester Police in connection with malicious communications sent to a woman in her 40s in Tameside.

Mcgrath was sentenced to 6 weeks, suspended for 18 months and ordered to pay courts costs amounting to 200, after pleading guilty to sending an offensive/indecent/obscene/menacing message.

Kelly will be sentenced separately on the 14th April 2022.

On Saturday 16 October 2021, McGrath sent threatening and abusive emails to the woman calling her a 'f****** vile b****' amongst other insults.

He received a sentence of 6 weeks, suspended for 18 months and courts costs amounting to 200 after pleading guilty to sending an offensive/indecent/obscene/menacing message.

On Monday 18 October 2021, Kelly left three voicemails on the woman's answerphone calling her 'a f****** murderer' and saying that he wished she would be shot dead.

Detective Sergeant Christopher Dean of GMP's Tameside CID said:

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"Abusive and threatening emails or phone calls, towards anyone, is unacceptable and not only impacts the life of those they are directed at but also those close to them.

"The abusive messages both McGrath and Kelly sent to this woman left her incredibly fearful for her safety and the safety of those around her. We launched a full investigation to identify those responsible and I hope today's sentence clearly demonstrates that these actions have consequences.

"What you think may be a quick and harmless email or phone call can result in a criminal conviction and we will always do what we can to take robust action against you."

 

Anyone who has been a victim or witnessed a hate crime is asked to report it at the earliest opportunity online or by using our LiveChat service at https://www.gmp.police.uk.

For victim support and information, visit gmvictims.org.uk. To find out more information and advice about hate crime, visit https://www.letsendhatecrime.com.

Eight men have been charged with a total of 82 offences as part of Operation Lytton - a major non-recent child sexual exploitation investigation.

Mohammed Ghani (23/09/1984) of Bamford Way, Rochdale has been charged with 21 offences including rape, engaging in sexual activity with a child and gross indecency.

Ali Razza Hussain Kasmi (26/08/1987) of Brotherod Hall Road, Rochdale has been charged with six offences including rape, gross indecency and sexual activity with a child.

Jahn Shahid Ghani (30/03/1973) of Whitworth Road, Rochdale has been charged with 17 offences including rape, sexual activity with a child, causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

Martin Rhodes (16/02/1984) of Dinmore Avenue, Blackpool has been charged with six offences including rape and sexual activity with a child.

Ikhlaq Yousaf (22/03/1985) of Stanley Street, Rochdale has been charged with seven offences including rape, gross indecency and sexual activity with a child.

Aftar Khan (19/05/1988) of Sparthbottom Road, Rochdale has been charged eight offences including charged rape, sexual activity with a child and gross indecency.  

Mohammed Iqbal (12/12/1955) of Gainsborough Drive, Rochdale has been charged with two counts of paying for sexual services of a girl under the age of 18.

Insar Hussain (23/03/1985) of Bishop Street, Rochdale has been charged with 15 offences including rape, sexual activity with a child, gross indecency and trafficking persons within the UK for sexual exploitation. 

They have all been released on bail ahead of an appearance at Manchester and Salford Magistrates' Court on 20 April 2022.

Operation Lytton is an ongoing GMP major investigation into non-recent child sexual exploitation across Greater Manchester.

These charges relate specifically to non-recent abuse committed against two teenage girls in Rochdale between 2002 and 2006.

Throughout the investigation detectives have been working alongside partners, including Rochdale Council, to provide a multi-agency response to safeguarding the victims and providing them with the support they need.

Detectives and officers from GMP's Serious and Organised Crime Group carried out seven warrants at addresses this morning (16 March 2022) in Rochdale, Cumbria and North Wales areas as part of a proactive investigation into the supply of class A drugs.

Two kilos of cocaine had already been recovered during the operation and today, high-value jewellery, a samurai sword and 2000 in cash were all seized by officers as the investigation continues.

Four men from Rochdale aged between 23 and 27 were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply class A drugs. A 57-year-old man from Rochdale was also arrested on suspicion of being part of an organised crime group.

A 28-year-old man from Cumbria and a 39-year-old man from Rhyl were also arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark McDowall, from GMP's Rochdale district, said:

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"Today's action is a result from months of hard work by detectives who launched an proactive investigation as part of our continued crackdown on drug supply in the region which blights our local communities.

"Drugs on the streets can have a huge effect on communities and are often a catalyst for serious crime due to drug disputes and today's activity is another step forward in disrupting serious, organised crime.

"Our crackdown knows no borders and we are prepared to travel and arrest those believed to be involved in drug supply on our streets.

"As always, we would ask that anyone with information or anyone with concerns to contact us as we work to disrupt serious crime across the region. Intelligence from members of the public continuously helps us with our on-going investigations - no matter how small the information may seem."

 

Anyone with information should report it online or by using our LiveChat service at www.gmp.police.uk. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Cyclists from across Greater Manchester are being invited to get on their bike for a right Northern knees up, by taking part in the Tour de Manc in aid of St Ann’s.

They are appealing for as many people as possible to join Team St Ann’s to take part in the challenge and raise money for local patients. 

The Tour de Manc, which will be taking place on Sunday 1st May, has four routes for participants of all abilities to choose from, ranging from 50km, 100km, 100 miles or 200km – all taking in some of the best sights across Greater Manchester. 

Rachel McMillan, Chief Executive of St Ann’s, said:

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It’s amazing to see the range of different challenges people take on in aid of the hospice, and we’re really excited about the prospect of lots of cyclists in Team St Ann’s t-shirts taking on this year’s Tour de Manc. 

As Manchester’s hospice, we are really proud to have been serving local communities for more than half a century, so it’s great to be able to take part in an event like this one that takes in so many of the iconic sights of Greater Manchester. 

Please do sign up to join us, we’d love to see you there. It’s been a really challenging few years for the hospice as our staff have been working hard to ensure people could continue receiving the specialist care they needed right through the pandemic. 

We’ve only been able to keep our doors open to do that because of the kind support of members of our local communities who have donated or joined in events and activities. Huge thanks to everyone who continues to support us. 

We appreciate it so much.

 Danny Franks, Tour de Manc Organiser, said:

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The Tour de Manc exists to help charities like St Ann’s and to help them raise vital funds. We’re immensely proud to have St Ann’s Hospice as one of our associate charities.

Are you interested in taking part?

they have a special discount code for the Tour de Manc available for those registering their interest with them. For more information, click the link below or contact their fundraising team on 0161 498 3631 or email events@sah.org.uk.  

https://www.sah.org.uk/events/tour-de-manc/

Today (16 March) at Manchester Crown Court, Dean Farrell (13/12/99) of Redesmere Close, Droylsden has been jailed for two years and seven months after previously pleading guilty to manslaughter.

The court heard how on Friday 6 August 2021 police were called at around 1.10am to a house on Redesmere Close, Droylsden to a report of a stabbing. Farrell then began speaking to the call operator telling them who he was and that he "just did what I had to do in the moment," and that he had been protecting a family member.

Continuing the call with the operator he confirmed he had stabbed 47-year-old Ian Bent, and when asked if he was still breathing he replied "It really doesn't look like it and there's so much blood, there's so much blood" before directing someone in the house to apply pressure to his wound.

Police and paramedics attended the house and Ian was found collapsed on the floor of the living room, with extensive injuries to his neck and back. He was taken to hospital in a critical condition but sadly died as a result of his injuries around an hour later.

Police located Farrell, who was distressed and covered in blood, and arrested him on suspicion of attempted murder. He was subsequently further arrested on suspicion of murder following the news that Ian had died.

A large blood stained combat knife was subsequently seized from the property.

Following enquiries it was revealed that Farrell had become embroiled in an argument with Ian inside the house and this culminated in the two fighting and Ian being fatally wounded. Farrell claimed that he had been acting in self-defence but later accepted that his actions had gone too far.

Senior Investigating Officer Duncan Thorpe of GMP's Major Incident Support Unit, said:

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"Ian lost his life as a result of this tragic incident and our thoughts have remained with his family and loved ones throughout this investigation".

"I can only hope that today's result brings them some form of closure and allows them to move past this incredibly difficult chapter in their lives. Farrell will have to live with the guilt of killing Ian for the rest of his life".

 

At the time of his death, Ian's daughter's Samantha and Katie said:

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"Our loving father, Ian, was our everything and more.

"He was a friend to many and loved by all. He would have always gone above and beyond to put a smile on anyone's face.

"A brother, a father, a granddad, and truly loyal friend; He had the biggest heart and made everyone happy who was around him; he was loved dearly and taken far too soon.

"We as a family, and close friends, are beyond heartbroken with his loss, and it will forever change our lives.

"This is not a goodbye, it is a see you soon."

 

Detectives investigating a sexual offence in Manchester city centre have released an e-fit of man they want to speak with.

At around 05:20am on Monday 31 January 2022, police received a report that a man had been raped by another man off London Road.

Enquiries have established it happened between 4am and 5am in a fire exit within an underpass near a hotel.

DC Annabel Lewis, of GMP's City of Manchester division, said:

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"The victim was walking home from work when this incident happened. Specialist services are now on hand to provide him with support.

"Since the offence was reported, we have completed extensive enquiries and the victim has been able to produce an e-fit of the male, which we are releasing today.

"I would also like to use this opportunity to appeal to anyone with other information they think may assist us with our investigation to share it with Longsight CID directly or anonymously via Crimestoppers."

 

Anyone with information should contact Greater Manchester Police quoting incident 368 of 31/01/22 via 0161 856 4409 or www.gmp.police.uk. Information can also be shared anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.