A man has been sentenced after a care home resident in Oldham was sexually assaulted in the early hours of the morning on New Year’s Day.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) received reports of a man carrying a knife at a care home in Oldham at around 1:45am on Sunday 1 January 2023, and when officers attended the scene and searched the premises, they found a young male inside – all before establishing that an 79-year-old woman had been sexually assaulted.
The intruder was immediately arrested at the scene.
The elderly victim was then taken to Saint Marys Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) for tests, where she, along with her family, received “immediate support and treatment from specialist officers and support services”, according to GMP.
After extensive CCTV analysis, and forensic analysis of the victim’s and suspects body and clothing, police were able to identify the suspect’s DNA was a match with previously logged DNA on a database.
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Man who attempted to rape an elderly woman inside an Oldham care home jailed / Credit: GMP
It was later confirmed that 22-year-old Jake Astley, of no fixed address, had been charged with one count of knowingly trespassing on a premises with intent to commit a sexual offence, one count of committing an offence with the intention of committing a sexual offence, one count of affray, and one count of assault.
Following being charged, Astley was then remanded to await trial – with an additional charge of attempted rape also being added to his indictment.
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He pleaded guilty to the charge of attempted rape and assault.
And finally yesterday (31 July), GMP confirmed that Astley was sentenced to 14 years (less 25% credit for plea) equating to 10 ½ years for rape, and serving an 18 month concurrent sentence for assault.
#JAILED | Today, Jake Astley (02/03/2001) of no fixed abode was sentenced to 10 ½ years for the attempt rape and assault of an elderly woman at a care home in #Oldham on New Year's Day.
This was after extensive CCTV and forensic analysis by officers.
— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) July 31, 2023
DC Sharon Harper, of GMP’s Oldham District, said has continued to assure members of the public that incidents of this horrific and distressing nature are “extremely rare”, but the sentencing demonstrates “the seriousness with which Greater Manchester Police deal with report of sexual assaults”.
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Speaking after the sentencing trial, DC Harper continued: “Astley was able to gain access to the premises, and arrogantly and knowingly walk through the care home to commit crime where vulnerable adults resided whilst he was under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
“He not only put the care home’s residents and staff through danger by threatening them with a knife and chasing them through their place of work or their home with a knife, but he then committed further atrocious crimes to a vulnerable elderly woman.
“He knowingly entered the victim’s bedroom, preyed upon her vulnerabilities, and began to assault and sexually assault her. His crimes are horrific and his lack of remorse for the victim and her welfare is despicable.
“Astley is a dangerous individual who fully deserves the sentence imposed on him.
Have you or do you know someone who has been a victim of rape or sexual assault?
GMP encourages victims not to suffer in silence and report it to the police by either calling 101 or 999 in an emergency, reporting information and crimes online using the ‘report’ tool, or alternatively reporting anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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There’s also lots of organisations and agencies available across Greater Manchester that can help and provide support.
A ‘legacy walk’ in memory of the Joe Thompson is taking place across Greater Manchester
Danny Jones
The ‘Walk With Me for JT’, a.k.a Joe Thompson ‘Legacy Walk’, is back next month, and Greater Mancunians are being encouraged to take part.
Returning this year following his tragic passing last April, the now annual charity walk has already raised thousands for charity and is set for another big turnout.
Joe Thompson, an ex-Rochdale AFC and Bury FC player, sadly died at just 36 following a long battle with lymphoma, having been diagnosed three different times in 12 years.
While the young husband and father of two’s story is a heartbreaking one, it has also become a source of inspiration for so many across the North West and, indeed, across the UK, with people once again gearing up to complete a fundraising walk in his name.
Set to honour him by making the journey from his adopted home of Rochdale all the way to Old Trafford, with Thompson having come through Man United’s youth academy, the 15-mile trek will start at his former club’s Crown Oil Arena and stop at Bury’s Gigg Lane as well as Salford City’s Peninsula Stadium.
First held in 2024 under the ‘Walk With Me for JT’ banner, the initial legacy walk saw the Bath-born footballer and countless others complete 21 miles in an effort to raise money for treatment.
Gone but never forgotten, the charity walk survives not only in the hearts and souls of his family, friends and other people’s lives he touched, but in the community spirit that his struggle and immense bravery in the face of illness helped spur on throughout the region and beyond.
Writing on social media, the Thompson family and the Foundation in his memory said, “Last year, he walked beside us. This year, we walk for him. This isn’t just a walk… It’s a promise. A promise to carry his strength, his belief, his light forward.
For every family facing illness. For everyone experiencing loss or hardship. For anyone who needs hope right now. Every step matters. Every mile has meaning. Whether you’ve walked before or this is your first time. You won’t walk alone.”
Join the annual Joe Thompson legacy walk on Saturday 2nd May 💙
Departing from the Crown Oil Arena, the 15-mile walk will finish at Manchester United's Old Trafford 🏟️
They signed off by adding: “Be part of something bigger. Be part of Joe’s legacy. Be part of the movement. Get a team together, invite your friends, colleagues and family and let’s raise funds to support The Joe Thompson Foundation.”
With the event beginning at 11am on Saturday, 2 May, there have already been numerous sign-ups, and you can expect even more to lace up their shoes and pay tribute to a local hero.
If you want to join in the effort and help do your bit, you can register for the 2026 Joe Thompson Legacy Walk right HERE.
Manchester rent is now ‘41% more expensive than five years ago, according to a recent study
Danny Jones
Yes, that’s right, as per some of the latest data on leased housing in central Manchester, it’s now approximately 41% more expensive to rent here than it was half a decade ago.
If you’ve lived in and around the city centre for long enough, chances are that you’ve already been feeling that difference, especially of late.
The ongoing cost-of-living crisis roughly began in 2021, following the economy and the world essentially opening back up after multiple lockdowns, so it’s little surprise that new research has shown affordability when it comes to renting has been on a slump ever since, too.
As well as the price of seemingly most things in everyday life going up post-pandemic, the average rental rate for even just a one-bedroom flat/apartment has jumped up significantly between 2020 and 2025.
Even some ‘available’ housing in town is being hampered by claddin (Credit: Valienne via WikiCommons)
That’s according to the numbers crunched by credit card experts, Zable, anyway.
Not only did their recent report cite the rent prices going up even before the cost of living crisis – essentially following the outset of the Covid-19 outbreak – but if their figures, the rate of inflation and the unwaveringly high demand for housing are anything to go by, this trajectory is likely to continue in 2026.
As of February this year, around one in three UK households is now a single-person occupancy, which already comes with its challenges (the Manchester City Council tax discount being a thin lifeline for countless), not to mention energy bills and the cost of groceries continuing on an upwards trend.
Put in the simplest and most reductive terms, it’s now almost £300 dearer for most people to live on their own than it was back in 2020, and besides Liverpool clocking in as second on the list of increasingly expensive cities to live (a 42.12% increase), Manchester came in third.
You can see the full table down below:
Rank
City
% increase – 2020-2025
Difference from 2020 to 2025 in £
Average rental cost for a 1 bed 2025
1
Newport
47.39%
£2,611
£8,121
2
Liverpool
42.12%
£2,290
£7,727
3
Manchester
41.00%
£3,364
£11,569
4
Edinburgh
40.28%
£4,620
£16,090
5
Leicester
39.93%
£2,391
£8,379
6
Wolverhampton
39.22%
£2,049
£7,273
7
Nottingham
39.07%
£2,400
£8,543
8
Glasgow
38.02%
£2,679
£9,725
9
Colchester
37.63%
£2,617
£9,572
10
Cardiff
37.06%
£2,828
Average rental cost for a 1-bed 2025
Another fear is that with lots of people finding it hard to manage living in other major cities like London, even those moving to Manchester are also having an impact on how available affordable housing is here.
That’s why schemes such as the new ‘social rent’ development over in Wythenshawe are so important to the current generations of renters, with the possibility of owning your own property in the future becoming increasingly difficult for so many.
It’s also worth noting that Manchester ranked fourth among the British locations where the cost of living is said to have increased the most over the past five years, with the average difference in annual spend growing by an estimated 22.84%.
Emily Sergeant -
1st August 2023 
