Crime

Police appeal after man is found with unexplained ‘serious injuries’ in Manchester’s Chinatown

GMP believes there's 'no wider risk to the community'.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 28th September 2026

Police are appealing for information after a man is found with unexplained ‘serious injuries’ in Manchester’s Chinatown.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained that at around 4:50am this past Saturday (26 September), officers were called to Nicholas Street near the Pagoda in Manchester’s Chinatown, where a man was found seriously injured.

The man was quickly rushed to hospital, where he remains receiving treatment while police work to establish the full circumstances surrounding how he came to sustain his injuries.

At this stage, GMP believes there is ‘no wider risk to the community’, however detectives are ‘keeping an open mind’ as enquiries continue.

No arrests have been made at this time, and the man’s identity has not been publicly released.

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While enquiries continue at pace, GMP has issued a public appeal for witnesses in a bid to uncover information on the incident.

Detectives say they are are appealing for anyone who was in the area around the Pagoda in Chinatown between 3am and 5am on Saturday 26 September.

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Anyone who may have witnessed anything that could assist the investigation is urged to come forward.

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Can you help? Anyone with information, or relevant CCTV, dashcam or mobile phone footage, is asked to contact police on 101 or via LiveChat, quoting log 578 of 26/09/2026.

Featured Image – GMP

Crime

Former GMP officer jailed after being found guilty of several online child sex offences

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A former police officer from Salford has been sentenced after being found guilty of a string of online child sex offences.

Following a trial back in July, 35-year-old Michael Aspinall was sentenced at Preston Crown Court earlier this week (Monday 14 September) after being found guilty of three counts of attempting sexual communication with a child.

It comes after Aspinall – who was employed by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) at the time of the offences – was arrested in October 2024 by detectives from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU), and was immediately suspended from duty following his arrest.

The investigation began after evidence was obtained that Aspinall had been communicating online with individuals that he believed to be children, but he was in fact communicating with a police officer.

Following this series of interactions, he was charged with various offences.

In addition to his eight-month sentence – which has been suspended for two years – Aspinall will also be placed on the sex offender’s register for 10 years, subject to a five-year serious crime prevention order, and have undertake 20 days of rehabilitation, GMP has confirmed.

He has additionally been added to the College of Policing’s barred list.

An application to request forfeiture of Aspinall’s police pension has also been made to the Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester.

“Aspinall’s offending was clearly unacceptable for any right-minded member of society and particularly inappropriate for a serving police officer,” commented Detective Chief Inspector Gareth Humphreys, from GMP’s Professional Standards Directorate.

“His actions put the whole police service under scrutiny, but thanks to the hard work and diligence of undercover officers, he was arrested, found guilty, and has now received his punishment.”

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DCI Humphreys concluded: “[Aspinall’s] actions take away from the hard work of the men and women who work so hard for their communities every day, and it is only right that anyone committing these sort of offences are rooted out.”

Featured Image – GMP

Crime

Stockport man admits to drugging and raping his wife without her knowledge for more than 20 years

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A man in his 60s from Stockport has admitted drugging and raping his wife in a ‘horrific’ 20-year campaign of abuse.

According to Greater Manchester Police (GMP), the man – who cannot be identified in order to protect the life-long anonymity of the victim – previously admitted five counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, six counts of assault by penetration, and one count of sharing intimate photos or film.

And now, during an appearance at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court yesterday (14 September), he pleaded guilty to a further 45 charges.

This makes it 60 charges in total the man has now pleaded guilty to.

Some of the charges he pleaded guilty to yesterday include a further 16 counts of rape, nine counts of assault by penetration, seven counts of sexual assault, and four counts of attempted rape, amongst several others.

Speaking following the court appearance yesterday, GMP’s Assistant Chief Constable, Rick Jackson, said: “Our focus remains on supporting the victim of this horrific campaign of abuse through what is a very complex investigation.

“Specialist support continues to be provided to the victim at the centre of this case.

“If you are concerned you or someone you know may be affected by drug-facilitated sexual abuse, please know that you do not need proof, certainty, or a clear memory to be taken seriously.

“You are not expected to understand exactly what has happened or who was involved in order to be taken seriously. If you feel that something has happened, then please report it or ask for help.”

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GMP reiterates that anyone who does choose to report sexual abuse does not need a full account or clear memory, can share as much or as little as they feel able, and will be supported by trained officers, as their ‘immediate’ safety and wellbeing will be the ‘priority’.

They may also speak to a support organisation first and decide later whether to involve police. 

  • Saint Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre – Services are available on a 24-hour basis, and can be accessed by calling 0161 276 6515. 
  • Greater Manchester Rape Crisis – Call on 0161 273 4500 or email [email protected] 
  • Survivors Manchester – Call 0161 236 2182.

Featured Image – Robert Cuts (via Flickr)

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