A man has been handed a lengthy jail sentence after police uncovered his “sinister activities” during a sexual abuse investigation.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) revealed that Peter James Wilson, from the Greater Manchester town of Atherton, abused seven victims over a 51-year time frame, starting all the way back in 1972 when he was just 14 years old.
The now 67-year-old began what has been described as a “horrifying pattern of abusive behaviour” towards young people that “persisted for decades”.
Police say he subjected multiple victims, regardless of their age or gender, to “deeply traumatising experiences”, which ranged from things like inappropriate advances, through to “devastating” acts of coercion and even rape.
As the years passed, Wilson’s predatory behaviour continued to escalate, as he manipulated and took advantage of his victims, while “shattering their innocence and trust” in the process – but GMP says 2023 marked a “turning point”, as Wilson was arrested at his home on suspicion of sexual assault involving a child.
An Atherton man has been handed a lengthy jail sentence after a ‘sinister’ sexual abuse case / Credit: GMP
Wilson’s arrest followed a brave disclosure from one of his victims, and this led to a thorough search of his property, which went on to reveal shocking evidence of his sinister activities.
Among the items seized from Wilson’s home were two mobile phone devices, a disc enclosed within an envelope, and a small camera containing an SD card, while police said they also “disturbingly” recovered a hidden camera, and after analysing these items, videos depicting the “cruel exploitation” of a female child, aged approximately six to eight years old, were unearthed.
After gathering this information, GMP initiated ‘Operation Bunker’.
‘Operation Bunker’ led to the discovery of further victims, and went on to manage all 28 counts of Wilson’s abuse and crimes.
Wilson pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a child under the age of 13 by touching, sexually assaulting a child under the age of 13 by penetration, and creating an indecent image of a child, as well as being found guilty by a jury of 23 further sexual offences relating to children and adults – including indecent assault and rape.
He was sentenced to 27 years in prison yesterday (16 September).
He will also be placed on the sex offenders’ register for life, and is subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), GMP has confirmed.
Featured Image – GMP
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Def Leppard announce HUGE arena gig in Manchester next year
Thomas Melia
English Glam Rock band Def Leppard have announced a brand new UK tour which features a stop in one of Manchester’s big arenas next year.
Known for hits like ‘Pour Some Sugar on Me’, ‘Animal’, ‘Love Bites’ and more, Def Leppard are back on the road and they’re heading out on a UK tour.
The band has achieved worldwide acclaim since entering the rock scene with their first-ever single, ‘Wasted’, back in 1979, and their success resulted in getting inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.
In 2023, Def Leppard teamed up with fellow metalheads Motley Crüe for the ultimate ‘Rock of Ages’, playing a spell-bounding gig at Wembley Stadium in front of 90,000 people.
The rock legends are continuing their career-highlight streak as now they’re about to play one of Manchester’s largest arenas, Co-op Live, sending 23,500 fans into ‘Hysteria’.
This upcoming Def Leppard UK tour sees the band making their way to Glasgow, Sheffield, London and Birmingham before visiting the music capital of the North.
The love for these rockers isn’t slowing down either, as their latest album ‘Drastic Symphonies’, a collaboration with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, scored Def Leppard their highest charting record in 32 years, debuting at number 4.
Fans will be over the moon to know that the five-piece visiting Co-op Live next year includes the same band lineup since 1992, with Joe Elliot, Rick Allen, Phil Collen, Rick Savage and Vivian Campbell playing out on the night.
The Rock Brigade will always make sure to remember Steve Clark, founding member and adorned- ‘Riffmaster’, and although the guitarist won’t be playing this innovative live music venue, fans will still give it their all for the current ‘Gods of War’.
These Sheffield-formed musicians have sold more than 110 million albums worldwide, so there will be no ‘Foolin’ around when it comes to screaming their lyrics at the top of your lungs next summer.
Def Leppard are coming to Co-op Live in Manchester on Monday 5 July, with tickets going on sale from 10am on Friday 5 September
Bolton man jailed for life after killing ‘vulnerable’ woman and hiding her body in his shed
Emily Sergeant
A man has been jailed for life after murdering a vulnerable woman and then proceeding to hide her body in a shed at his house in Bolton.
Christopher Barlow killed Mariann Borocz back in December 2024 after randomly meeting her at a shop and inviting her to his house, before killing her and then going on to dump her body in a locked shed in his garden.
55-year-old Mariann, who was originally from Hungary, was reported missing on Sunday 15 December having been last seen alive in the early hours of the previous day.
During the police search and investigation, CCTV showed Barlow following Mariann into a shop near his house and then back out again, and after Barlow was arrested on suspicion of assault on 23 December, officers found the keys to his shed – which is when they, sadly, discovered Mariann’s body.
Barlow was charged with murder, but the 63-year-old first denied this charge, and also denied any contact with Mariann.
The case was then handed over to Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) Major Incident Team, led by Detective Chief Inspector Tony Platten.
#JAILED | This is the moment Christopher Barlow was arrested for the murder of Mariann Borocz.
We made extensive efforts to locate Mariann, and our thoughts continue to be with her family.
A three-week trial then began at Manchester Crown Court, and when forensic evidence linked Barlow to Mariann’s body, he then when on to admit during the trial that he had invited her into his house, and found her not breathing in his kitchen about 40 minutes later.
Despite maintaining he did dot murder her, the jury returned its guilty verdict after less than a day of deliberation.
Last week, Barlow was sentenced to life in prison and must serve a minimum term of 20 years behind bars.
Detective Sergeant Fiona Manning described this as a ‘harrowing’ investigation and subsequent trial for Mariann’s family.
“Barlow befriended Mariann and she believed she could trust him,” DS Manning said, “That could not have been further from reality.”
DS Manning then assured that GMP remains ‘steadfast’ in its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of women in Greater Manchester‘s communities, and will continue to work ‘tirelessly’ to uphold justice.
She concluded: “Women should be able to go out freely and without fear that something may happen to them.”
Emily Sergeant -
17th September 2024 
