News

Police issue urgent appeal after three teens are arrested following Bury town centre stabbings

GMP believes the incident was a "targeted attack", with no wider threat to the public.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 13th March 2024

Police are urgently appealing for information and witnesses following several people being stabbed in Bury town centre earlier this week.

It comes after three teenagers have been arrested following the distressing incident.

In case you hadn’t heard about the series of events, officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) were called out to reports that three males had been stabbed in Bury town centre, close to the world-famous Bury Markets site.

The shocking incident happened in broad daylight at around 12:15pm on Monday afternoon (11 March 2024).

Police issue urgent appeal after three teens are arrested following Bury town centre stabbings / Credit: GMP

Once emergency services arrived on the scene, they did, indeed, find three males who’d sustained stab wounds, and they were subsequently rushed to hospital shortly after – although thankfully, their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

Two of the three males have since been released from hospital, police have confirmed, but the third is still being kept in.

Since the incident, officers from GMP’s Bury district have arrested a 17-year-old boy on suspicion of Section 18 assault, who has since been released with no further action, while another 17-year-old male and a 16-year-old male have been arrested on suspicion of violent disorder, and are still in police custody.

Section 60 powers are also currently in place until 6:30pm this evening (13 March) covering areas of the town centre to help prevent further incidents, meaning officers will be able to stop and search anyone without suspicion in these areas during this time.

Police have revealed they believe the incident was a “targeted attack”.

“We believe this incident was a targeted attack, and thankfully no one has suffered life-threatening injuries,” commented Detective Chief Inspector John Charlton, of GMP’s Bury division.

Section 60 ‘stop and search’ powers are currently in place in the above area until 6:30pm this evening / Credit: GMP

He continued: “There is not a threat to the wider public, and we also believe this was an isolated incident. You may see heightened patrols in the local area, but don’t be alarmed by this, as our officers are there to help, support and reassure the wider community.”

With a police investigation having now been opened and enquiries ongoing, GMP has issued an urgent public appeal, and is asking anyone with information to make a report to police – with this also extending to anyone who may have relevant footage, including CCTV, mobile, Ring doorbell, or dashcam footage.

You can make a report by calling 101 and quoting 1338 of 11/03/2024.

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Alternatively, you can make a report anonymously by calling the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Featured Image – GMP

News

All military personnel can travel for FREE on Manchester’s public transport this weekend

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant A Metrolink tram in Manchester city centre

All military personnel will be allowed to travel for free across Greater Manchester’s public transport system this weekend.

In case you hadn’t heard, this Saturday 28 June is Armed Forces Day.

Armed Forces Day sees Brits celebrate those who are currently serving troops, their families, serving reservists, veterans, and cadets, and Manchester will also be paying tribute to the hundreds who have ‘fearlessly served’ with day of commemorations in the city centre on Saturday.

Mancunians are expected to line the streets as a parade made up of armed forces personnel, veterans, and cadets will begin a procession that will proudly march through the centre of Manchester, starting in St Peter’s Square at 11:30am. 

You can also expect an afternoon of live performances by the lively Lancashire Army Artillery Band, alongside music hosted by BBC Radio DJ, Michelle Dignan, up until 4pm. 

Historic military displays, and stalls from organisations including the NHS, Royal British Legion, and Manchester City Council’s own Armed Forces Covenant, will also be in attendance, as well giving visitors the chance to explore an engaging display of military vehicles, uniforms, artefacts, and personal stories that span the rich legacy of the British armed forces inside a pop-up Military Museum tent.

This year’s Armed Forces Day is also particularly-special because it marks the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE Day) which happened on 8 May, and the upcoming Victory over Japan (VJ Day) on 15 August.

All military personnel can travel for free on Manchester’s public transport this weekend / Credit: GMP | Bee Network

And so, in order to honour what an important weekend it is for hundreds in our region, the Bee Network has announced that all military personnel will be allowed to travel for free.

Free travel will be permitted on all Bee Network bus and tram services on both Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 June for any members of the Regular and Reserve Services carrying their MOD90 card, veterans who carry their Veterans’ badge or Veterans’ rail card, and cadets travelling in uniform.

“The Armed Forces community makes an invaluable contribution to our society, and we’re showing our appreciation with free travel on Bee Network buses and trams across Greater Manchester this weekend,” commented Danny Vaughan, who is the Chief Network Officer at Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).

The free travel is part of TfGM’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant – a promise from the nation that those who serve or have served, and their families, are treated fairly.

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“It’s a special weekend and one we’re proud to get behind,” Danny concluded.

Featured Image – Janus Boye

News

Stockport paedophile jailed after ‘grooming, exploiting, and coercing’ teenage girls in early 2000s

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Christopher Oates

A prolific paedophile has been sentenced after admitting to ‘grooming, exploiting, and coercing’ teenage girls in the early 2000s.

Christopher Oates, from Stockport, has been brought to justice this week after he subjected vulnerable girls to what Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has referred to as a ‘campaign’ of violence and sexual abuse 20 years ago.

The court heard how the 45-year-old groomed one of the survivors from when she was just 14 years old, by providing her with a false sense of security, paying her compliments, and pretending to be her boyfriend, all before he proceeded to ply her with drugs, gifts, and affection, and using the trust and control he gained to persuade her to start sex work on the streets of Manchester.

When the teenage victim began to doubt his intentions and asked to go home, Oates dragged her down an alleyway, violently attacked her, and threatened her with a gun, stating: ‘You do as I say, you’re mine now,’ commanding her to go to her ‘spot’.

It was this incident that prompted the teenager to confide in her mother and support services, and from here, found the strength to move forward with her life, while still courageously supporting the police investigation.

From this investigation, detectives were then able to identify a second teenage victim, a 17-year-old, who Oates also coerced into sex work.

The two victims recall Oates taking them to a designated spot in central Manchester at least once a week to carry out sex acts in cars for money.

Oates would supply both victims with cocaine and alcohol, and even pressured them to take crack cocaine and heroin, aiming to build an addiction and increase their dependency on him.

In April 2024, Oates pleaded guilty to two counts of making indecent images of children, taking indecent images of children, and attempting to engage a child in sexual communication, as well as pleading to the production of cannabis and two counts of possessing an identity document with improper intent.

After being remanded into custody, on 5 September 2024, Oates was postal charged with possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, three counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged 13-15 years old, and two counts causing / inciting a child aged 13-17 years to prostitution.

A paedophile from Stockport has been jailed after ‘grooming, exploiting, and coercing’ teenage girls in the early 2000s / Credit: GMP

In March earlier this year on the fourth day of his trial, Oates admitted to the offences, and this week (25 June 2025), he was sentenced to 13 years in prison for all his crimes.

“I would like to commend the two women at the centre of this case for the strength they demonstrated throughout our investigation and subsequent legal proceedings,” commented Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Eleanor Humphreys, from GMP’s CSE Major Investigations Team, as Oates was sentenced this week.

“It has been an arduous process for them to relieve the horrific abuse, and I am so grateful they placed their trust and confidence in our team to pursue justice.

“Their resilience and determination were the driving force behind reaching today’s outcome, where a dangerous man begins serving a lengthy sentence behind bars, far away from causing any more harm or misery.

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“Despite Oates’s cowardly attempts to evade facing justice, the evidence we uncovered was overwhelming, and his crimes finally caught up with him.

“I hope this brings these survivors a sense of closure after all these years.”

Featured Image – GMP

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