Cheshire

Public warned not to approach killer who’s escaped prison for SECOND time

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 25th March 2022

The public are being warned not to approach a convicted killer who has escaped prison for the second time.

Police are appealing for information as they trace the whereabouts of Shane Farrington.

The 39-year-old has absconded from HMP Thorn Cross in Appleton, Warrington.

He was last seen at the prison at around 6.45pm on Thursday 24 March, Cheshire Police say.

The 39-year-old was found guilty of manslaughter in 2009 after killing a prisoner in his cell at HMP Peterborough.

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HMP Thorn Cross, the prison Farrington escaped from. Credit: Google Maps

He has also escaped prison once before, running away from hospital treatment in Norfolk in 2018.

On that occasion the 39-year-old ran through car parks, a farmer’s field and Norwich City’s training ground before being caught by police around two hours later.

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He’s believed to have links in the Peterborough area but was last seen in the north west.

Farrington was wearing a dark top with white writing on the front, blue jeans, black shoes, a dark coat and a dark rucksack last time he was seen.

Read more: Transport Secretary calls on ‘brazen’ P&O Ferries boss to resign after mass staff sacking

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Superintendent Mike Evans said: “We currently have numerous officers carrying out a variety of searches to locate Farrington. 

“While our enquiries are ongoing we’re urging anyone who sees Farrington to not approach him but to instead call Cheshire Constabulary immediately on 999 quoting IML 1230000.

“Officers will be maintaining a presence around the prison and in the local area to provide reassurance to the community. If you have any concerns please do speak to one of them.”
 
Information can also be passed on anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Featured image: Cheshire Police

Cheshire

Stockport man who squirted semen on women in supermarkets jailed

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Stockport man who squirted semen on women in supermarkets jailed

A ‘sexual predator’ from Stockport who squirted women with a bottle of semen in supermarkets has been jailed.

William Kidd, 27, was found to be following unsuspecting women while they shopped, and was caught four times on CCTV spraying his victims with a ‘substance from a bottle’.

This substance was later confirmed through forensic analysis to be Kidd’s own semen, which he aimed at women’s hair or backs.

These ‘depraved’ acts took place across five separate incidents between May and September 2025, in stores across Macclesfield, Handforth and Stanley Green in Cheshire, as well as Denton and Stockport in Greater Manchester.

As well as the semen spraying, Kidd was found to have followed a woman through a store and secretly filmed her on his mobile phone while she shopped with her five‑year‑old daughter.

Following his arrest in October 2025, Kidd’s phone was reviewed and it was found he had filmed up a woman’s skirt while she was pushing a small child in a shopping trolley.

Kidd was also found to be in possession of a quantity of cannabis at the time of his arrest.

William Kidd has been jailed after he was discovered to be squirting semen on women in Stockport
William Kidd has been jailed after he was discovered to be squirting semen on women in Stockport

The Stockport man appeared at Manchester Crown Court on Friday 29 May, where he was sentenced to four years in prison and is now subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which remains in place indefinitely.

The 27-year-old of Stanbank Street had earlier pleaded guilty to 11 counts of sexual assault on a female, two counts of voyeurism, eight counts of recording an image under clothing to observe another without consent, and possession of cannabis.

Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Tiffany Berry-Perkin said: “Firstly, I would like to commend the victims in this case for the strength and bravery they have shown throughout this investigation.

“It is thanks to their continued support that our team was able to gather an overwhelming body of evidence against Kidd, leaving him with no option but to plead guilty.

“Kidd deliberately targeted innocent women as they went about their everyday lives, entirely unaware of the depraved acts he was committing against them.

“His behaviour is completely unacceptable, and I welcome the fact that he is now being held accountable behind bars, where he can no longer pose a danger to women in our communities.”

Detective Sergeant Steven Kaminski said: “This case is an excellent example of neighbouring forces working together to identify and apprehend offenders who target women and girls.

“Kidd was fully aware that what he was doing was wrong. He knew his actions would cause his victims extreme distress, yet he chose to continue, deliberately travelling to multiple stores across two counties with the intention of violating and ultimately sexually assaulting innocent women.

“Putting an end to violence against women and girls remains a top priority for the force, and we will continue to remove sexual predators like Kidd from Cheshire and ensure they see justice.

“We treat all allegations of sexual offences extremely seriously, and any allegation will be thoroughly investigated, with the wishes and needs of the victim as our main priority.

“Victims should never feel ashamed of what has been done to them. Anyone who comes forward will be met with compassion, respect, and specialist support from our officers, alongside partner support agencies. All victims of sexual offences are entitled to anonymity, and we are committed to ensuring they receive the help and protection they deserve.”

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Featured image: Cheshire Police

Cheshire

A Greater Manchester run club is taking on a 24-hour ‘Everest’ memorial and charity challenge

Danny Jones Danny Jones Altrincham run club 24hr Everest challenge Jim's Big Tesco charity hill run

A Greater Manchester run club is set to take on an impressive 24-hour feat of endurance dubbed the ‘Everest’ challenge later this week, and it’s all for charity.

Yes, running on behalf of not only a nearby organisation but also in memory of a beloved native, this deeply moving event will see the group of Trafford runners going up and down hills for a whole day.

We’ve seen the huge growth of the flagship Manchester 24-Hour Run Against Homelessness over the past half a decade – which has now spread to multiple other cities – and it’s great to see similar formats springing up across the region.

Set up by Batch Running Club, who are based in Altrincham, the Everest challenge gets underway this coming Friday and will run (pun very much intended) into the weekend.

Sharing a lengthy post on social media, they wrote: “On Friday, 5th June at 6pm, our amazing running club will begin a 24-hour challenge running backwards and forwards over Moss Lane Bridge near Tesco in Altrincham.

“Our goal? To cover the equivalent elevation of climbing Mount Everest — at least once, maybe even more! We’re taking on this challenge to raise much-needed funds for Trafford Carers Centre in memory of the wonderful Jim Edward Parsons.

“A couple of years ago, as a running club, we chose to support Trafford Carers because of a personal connection within the Batch family. Bards, owner of Batch Bottlestore, saw first-hand the incredible support Trafford Carers gave his mum, Kirsty, while she cared full-time for his stepdad Jim.

“Their help made a huge difference during an incredibly difficult time and ensured Kirsty never felt alone in her role as a carer.”

Unfortunately, Jim sadly passed away last December, and so in an effort to honour his life and support the crucial care network that has not only aided local families but touched so many other lives in the process, they’ll be taking on the ‘Big Tesco Hill’ for 24 hours straight. WOW.

big tesco hill moss lane hill run alty
As the poster would suggest, it runs right past the main Alty Tesco. (Credit: David Dixon via Geograph)

Having been lucky enough to enjoy the downhill version of that very same hill as part of the Manchester Marathon, we can only imagine how difficult it is running back up it in the other direction…

Encouraging people to come along and join, or even just come along and support as volunteers and/or cheer on from the sidelines, they’re hoping to complete as many laps as time will allow and, more importantly, raise as much vital funding as possible.

They signed off by adding: “This charity is incredibly close to our hearts, and Jim will always remain at the centre of why we continue supporting Trafford Carers.”

We hope 2026 is just the first of what will become a worthwhile annual fitness fundraiser; you can donate to the charity run HERE.

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Featured Images — Batch Running Club (via Instagram)/Google Street View (screenshot)

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