Greater Manchester Police have released CCTV of a vehicle as they seek to identify a man believed to be behind three attempted kidnappings.
Police responded to reports of a teenage girl being approached by a male at a bus stop in Salford on Monday 21 November at around 6.15pm – he then tried to physically get her to go in his car.
The vehicle in question is a black Vauxhall Astra hatchback, which notably has one silver wing mirror on the driver’s side.
The man made advances to the girl, 15, between the two roundabouts on Monton Green.
The car that police are looking for. Credit: GMP
The vehicle and its driver may be linked to two similar incidents in other parts of Salford, which involved two more girls aged 13 and 15.
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Detectives are now appealing for the public’s help in identifying the driver of the vehicle and urging the man to come forward.
You can watch the CCTV here:
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The first clip is from Rocky Lane, the second from Monton Road and third from Folly Lane/Birch Road junction.
Operation Wraith has been set up with dedicated detectives investigating the offences.
Detectives are now keen to speak to anyone who may have dashcam footage matching the following locations and times:
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Rocky Lane/Monton Green/Monton High Street on Monday 21 November 2022 between 6-7pm.
Mossfield Road/Ackworth Road, Swinton on Monday 21 November 2022 between 8-9am.
Liverpool Street, Salford between Fitzwarren Street and Albion Way on Wednesday 16 November 2022 between 7:45-8:20pm.
They are requesting that you email [email protected] with your name and contact number and will email you back with instructions to upload your footage.
Detective Inspector Chris Horsfield from the Salford Division said: “The victims have been left extremely shaken up by this encounter and it’s very important that we get this man identified and off the streets as soon as possible.
“We believe that the man we want to speak to may have been driving a dark-coloured hatchback car, but we need to review dashcam footage to identify the make, model and registration plate.
“We are appealing to drivers in the areas on the dates and times above to please submit their dashcam footage to us, so our specialised officers can go through and analyse it.
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“You can contact us on 0161 856 8361 (voicemail facility), by dialling 101 or using the LiveChat function on our website www.gmp.police.uk, quoting log number 2786 of 21/11/22.”
Featured image: GMP
News
‘Violent’ Salford man jailed after raping two women he met on dating apps
Emily Sergeant
A man from Salford who police describe as ‘violent’ has been jailed after raping two women he met on dating apps.
Kenny Cox appeared at Manchester Crown Court for his sentencing last week (23 October) in relation to the rape of two women – one in November 2021 and one in September 2024.
The 46-year-old was arrested on 8 September 2024, charged and then remanded, before standing trial for both rapes in March 2025.
The trial, however, resulted in a hung jury, so a new trial commenced in August 2026, and Cox was then subsequently found guilty of two counts of rape and one of attempted rape.
It comes after, on 7 November 2021, one of the victims met up with Cox after connecting through a dating app. They went to a property in Salford, and after drinking alcohol together, the victim began to feel hazy and described herself as ‘feeling paralysed’ and ‘unable to move’.
It was during this time she was raped by the suspect.
After she was able to move, she left the property in a taxi and subsequently reported the incident to the police.
Cox was arrested on 14 November 2021 and bailed with stringent bail conditions not to contact the victim. But then, on 4 September 2024, he met up with a second victim, again after connecting through a dating app, and they went to a property in Salford where he raped her before she was able to leave and inform police.
Following the trial, Cox has been sentenced to 14 years in prison, with four years on licence.
He was also given an indefinite restraining order against the victims, and is subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
“I would firstly like to commend the strength of the victims in this case,” commented Detective Sergeant James Walsh, of GMP’s Salford Criminal Investigation Department. “They have gone through this trial process twice now and each time have has shown incredible courage to ensure Cox was put behind bars.
“He preyed on these women and is an violent, sexual offender.
“I hope this sentence and the subsequent sexual harm prevention order imposed gives the victims a sense of justice to help them try to move forward from this and put Kenny Cox firmly in their past where he belongs.”
Featured Image – GMP
News
Teen arrested after hiding in wheelie bin following attempted burglary in Bolton
Emily Sergeant
A teenage boy has been arrested after police found him hiding in a wheelie bin during the early hours of the morning.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained that, at around 3:50am this past Saturday morning (24 October), officers from the Bolton Neighbourhood Team were called to reports of a ‘disturbance’ on Ullswater Drive, in the Farnworth area of Bolton.
Upon arrival, police discovered that a group of people had attempted to break into a garden shed and steal items.
Following a police chase on foot and searches of surrounding gardens, officers found a 17-year-old boy hiding inside a wheelie bin, and he was subsequently arrested on suspicion of burglary.
A 16-year-old girl was also arrested on suspicion of attempted burglary, and they have both been bailed while the investigation continues.
Enquiries remain ongoing to identify and locate others who police believe to have been involved in the incident.
Sergeant Emily Fogg, from GMP’s Bolton Neighbourhood Team, said the boy ‘clearly did a rubbish job’ of hiding from police.
“Our policing teams are committed to rooting our criminality in our communities and will continue to seek justice for victims of this invasive crime,” Sergeant Fogg concluded.
Daisy Jackson -
28th November 2022 
