Four teens have been sentenced for a harrowing attack that saw them strip a young boy of his clothes before assaulting him.
The group of 17-year-old boys appeared before Manchester Crown Court on Monday, where the details of the ‘terrifying’ incident were recounted and the teenagers sentenced to 12 months each in a youth detention centre.
They will then follow a strict programme managed by the youth offending team on release.
The judge noted that the offenders, who pleaded guilty, would have faced around seven years in prison if they had been sentenced as adults.
The 17-year-old victim was left with injuries that required hospital treatment after the attack in an alleyway just off Featherstall Road North, Oldham, on the 21 June 2022.
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Featherstall Road North, Oldham. Credit: Google Maps
GMP’s Oldham CID established that the offenders had planned the attack and carried weapons to the scene.
Oldham’s Chief Superintendent Chris Bowen, said: “This attack in July was followed by several incidents of disorder in the Oldham area, including people’s homes and businesses being damaged.
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“In response, GMP worked around the clock with assistance from our partner agencies and local community leaders to prevent any further disorder and to make sure these teenagers were brought to justice.
“This was a premeditated and harrowing attack of a young boy who was stripped of his clothes before being badly assaulted by a group of people, which must have been terrifying. Our investigation team worked hard to identify those involved and bring them into custody.
“It is important to note that in the judges summing up of the case, he stated that the offenders would have likely received around seven years each in prison if they had been sentenced as adults, showing the severity of the incident.
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“I hope they reflect upon their behaviour while they are away from home for the next year and use the time to better themselves. We will not tolerate this type of violent crime in our local community.”
Featured image: Google Maps
Crime
Drink spiking set to be made a criminal offence in the UK to ‘protect women and girls’
Emily Sergeant
Drink spiking is set to be made a criminal offence in the UK in a bid to help “protect women and girls”, it has been confirmed.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer says he is personally committing to halving violence women and girls by urging all police chiefs, industry executives, and transport bosses nationwide to “work together” to keep everyone safe.
The Government says this new measure will “send a clear signal that this is a crime”.
“Perpetrators should feel the full force of the law,” the Prime Minister said, adding that he believes the new law will empower victims to report offences and give them the confidence that the justice system will support them.
Drink spiking is set to be made illegal in the UK / Credit: Moses Malik Roldan (via Unsplash)
The new offence is said to be only one of part of the solution, however, as Starmer will also demand “coordinated action” to “stamp out this cowardly act” and “take back our streets”.
This will include the training of thousands of staff working in the nighttime economy on how to spot and tackle spiking, equipping them with the skills they need to prevent incidents and support victims, as well as help police to collect evidence.
With the pilot starting from next month, the aim is for this to be rolled out to up to 10,000 bar staff across the country by spring next year.
Spiking will be made a criminal offence.
My government was elected to take back our streets, central to this mission is making sure women and girls can feel safe at night.
Perpetrators of spiking will feel the full force of the law.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper called spiking a “disturbing and serious crime”
She continued: “That’s why we are taking decisive action to prevent this devastating crime and crack down on perpetrators by introducing a new criminal offence for spiking, and launching specialist training for thousands of bar staff nationwide.
“People shouldn’t have to worry about the safety of their drinks on a night out.
“These changes are about giving victims greater confidence to come forward, and ensuring that there is a robust response from the police whenever this appalling crimes take place.”
Featured Image – John Arano (via Unsplash)
Crime
Police urgently appeal following triple stabbing in Manchester city centre
Emily Sergeant
Police are urgently appealing for information following a triple stabbing in Manchester city centre over the weekend.
The appeal comes after Greater Manchester Police (GMP) was called to a disturbance in Piccadilly Gardens at around 11:45pm this past Saturday night (23 November), and when officers arrived on the scene, they found two teenagers, aged 17 and 18, seriously injured with stab wounds.
Police were then later notified that a 20-year-old man presented at hospital with a stab wound to the chest, and this was believed to have been sustained during this same incident.
Paramedics rushed the two teenagers to hospital, where they are currently still receiving treatment for their injuries, however none of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening at this time.
In an attempt to gain more understanding of the situation and what happened, an urgent police appeal has now been issued.
A dispersal order has been issued in #Manchester City Centre and extends throughout GM to protect the public from anti-social behaviour in response to a rising number of reports.
— Manchester City Centre Police (GMP) (@GMPCityCentre) November 23, 2024
“We are investigating an incident that occurred in Manchester city centre last night, which led to three people in hospital with serious injuries,” explained Detective Chief Inspector Michelle Buchanan, from GMP’s city centre division.
“Officers are reviewing CCTV footage and forensic enquiries are being carried out.
“We are making good process in this early stage and are appealing to anyone who was in the vicinity of Piccadilly Gardens and may have witnessed an altercation involving a group of males yesterday just after 11pm to please come forward and speak with us.
“I also urge people who were in the area to check their mobile phones, or CCTV to see if they may have captured any footage that could be useful to our investigation, no matter how small, as any information may help us.”
Anyone with any information is asked to ring police 101, or speak with the investigating team directly on 0161 856 4227, quoting log 3463 of 23/11/2024.
Information can also be submitted anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Daisy Jackson -
1st December 2022 
