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Moving tribute paid to ‘cherished and adored’ woman, 22, killed in Manchester crash
'The world will be a dark place without her shining light in it'
The family of a young woman who died in a crash in Withington have paid a moving tribute to her.
Imogen Higgs was just 22 years old when she passed away following a collision on Mauldeth Road West in south Manchester.
Imogen, known to her family as Immy, has been described as being ‘beautiful inside and out’ in a touching tribute released through GMP.
“The world will be a dark place without her shining light in it,” they said.
The tribute to Imogen also praised all the people who tried to save her life at the scene and in hospital.
A 20-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of death by dangerous driving, failing to stop and perverting the course of justice, and an 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
They have both been released on bail.
In a tribute to Imogen, her family said: “Our darling Immy was cruelly and needlessly taken from us on 31 May.
“We are all devastated and heartbroken. Our family has been destroyed.
“She had graduated with a history degree from the University of Manchester last year and had been working at the University for the last nine months.
“She was intelligent, witty, funny, thoughtful, kind and caring. The best daughter, sister, niece, cousin and friend anyone could hope for. Beautiful inside and out, she brought sunshine into everyone’s lives.
“The world will be a dark place without her shining light in it.
“We would like to thank the people at the scene who tried to save Immy’s life, including the numerous paramedics and hospital staff.
“She will never be forgotten and is loved, cherished and adored by everyone who knew her.”
Imogen’s family have asked for privacy while they grieve for their loss.
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Featured image: GMP
News
Greater Manchester public urged to help get people ‘off the streets and on their feet’ before Christmas
Emily Sergeant
Locals are being urged to help get hundreds of people “off the streets and back on their feet” this festive season.
As the temperatures told colder by the day, and Christmas creeps closer and closer, Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity is bringing back ‘1000 Beds for Christmas’, and the massively-important initiative is aiming to provide 1,000 nights of accommodation to people at risk of homelessness before the big day arrives.
Forming part of the ongoing ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme, this festive fundraising mission is designed to provide food, shelter, warmth, and dedicated vital wrap-around support for those who need it most.
The charity says it wants to build on the “incredible success of 2023”, which raised more than £55,000 and provided 1,800 nights of accommodation.
Stockport-based property finance specialists, Together – which has supported the campaign for the last two years – has, once again, generously pledged to match every public donation for the first £20,000 raised.
Unfamiliar with the ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme? Since 2017, when rough sleeping peaked, the initiative has helped ensure a significantly-higher rate of reduction in the numbers of people facing a night on streets in Greater Manchester than seen nationally.
The landmark scheme has given people the chance to rebuild their lives, while also giving them access to key services and opportunities that allows them to stay off the streets for good.
Despite the scheme’s recent success, organisations across Greater Manchester are under “a huge amount of pressure” to meet the demand for their services this winter, and given the current economic outlook, household budgets will continue to be squeezed – leaving people on the sharp end of inequality and poverty.
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“Help us be a lifeline to organisations on the frontline,” Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity urged in it’s public appeal for donations.
You can help make sure ‘A Bed Every Night’ is a reality for all by donating here.
Featured Image – EthelRedThePetrolHead (via Flickr)
News
Former Manchester police officer jailed after sexually assaulting a child while on duty
Emily Sergeant
A former Manchester police officer has been jailed after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a child while he was on duty.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained that, on 29 December 2023, Dean Dempster was one of three officers responding to a domestic incident involving an adult and children, and it was while he was taking an account from a six-year-old girl, away from his colleagues, that he sexually abused her when he should have been there to protect her.
After GMP investigated a complaint received later that evening in relation to the incident, Dempster was immediately confronted by his supervisor when he returned to duty the next morning.
The 35-year-old was arrested that day by officers in Oldham, and then “relentlessly pursued” by GMP’s Professional Standards Directorate to “explore any further evidence of offending” in an investigation directed by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
A review of Dempster’s electronic devices revealed “further serious offending”, GMP revealed, including the making of indecent images of children.
Sadly, the police investigation also found images on Dempster’s mobile phone taken from his body-worn video camera at the incident in December 2023 of a second clothed child, and of another clothed child at a separate incident dating back to 2022 – with the victims of both families having been made aware, and kept updated throughout the investigation
Dempster was convicted and sacked “at the earliest legal opportunity” by the Chief Constable at an accelerated misconduct hearing in May this year, and he has since admitted six counts of making indecent images, and two counts of Misconduct in Public Office.
After pleading guilty, the former officer has now been jailed for nine years, and has also been ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for life.
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Deputy Chief Constable, Terry Woods, said Dempster “represents the very worst of society”.
“He is not a police officer, he is a child sex offender, a criminal, and he has no right to be near police uniform or serve the public,” DCC added. “Dempster was rightfully arrested and charged before he could ever work in our communities again.”
Featured Image – GMP
Daisy Jackson -
10th June 2024 
