Two people have today been arrested in connection with the serious sexual assault of a teenage girl 20 years ago.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has confirmed that today (22 November), a 54-year-old man from Altrincham was arrested on suspicion of the serious sexual assault of a girl under the age of 16 in the early 2000s, while at the same time, two other warrants were then executed – which GMP said resulted in the arrest of a 52-year-old man for the same offence.
These arrests were carried out by the force’s CSE (Child Sexual Exploitation) Team.
The CSE Team is a unit dedicated to bringing those to justice who are believed to have been involved in serious sexual assault of girls under the age of 16 in the early 2000s.
As part of Operation Green Jacket – which is GMP’s response to child sexual exploitation between 2002 and 2005 – these two arrests have come as the result of what has been described as a “painstaking investigation” by the team.
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DS Simon France says the CSE Team is “pleased with today’s arrests”.
He continued: “Our team works extremely hard to investigate non-recent serious sexual offences against girls under the age of 16, to ensure the perpetrators are arrested, charged and dealt with by the courts.
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“Although 20 years have passed since the offences, our team are dedicated to ensuring that victims of this kind of horrific abuse are seen and heard, making sure they receive justice.
“These young girls are now women with their own lives and families, and we commend their bravery in coming forward and talking us through events, which are extremely painful for them to relive, in order for us to build a successful case.”
Two men have been arrested in connection with serious sexual assault of teenage girl 20 years ago / Credit: GMP
GMP is urging anyone who believes they may have been a victim of sexual assault to contact the team on 0161 856 8259, via 101, or by using our LiveChat function.
“Often with these kind of cases victims are reluctant to come forwards as they think they will not be taken seriously,” DS France concluded.
“My response to that is we will listen to you and you will be believed.”
Featured Image – GMP
News
Family pay tribute to father-of-two killed in Rochdale plane crash
Daisy Jackson
The family of a man killed in a light aircraft crash in Rochdale have paid tribute to a ‘deeply loving father and devoted husband’.
36-year-old Arian Abbasi was one of two men killed when an aircraft crashed into farmland in Littleborough in Rochdale last week, after travelling from Birmingham.
Emergency services rushed to the scene shortly after 11am on Tuesday 3 February, but sadly pronounced both men dead at the scene.
It’s believed there was no one else on board the aircraft, and there were no reported injuries on the ground.
Now, Arian’s family have issued a moving tribute to him. He was a pilot from Harrow in Greater London.
They described him as being a ‘deeply loving’ family man, whose passion was flying.
He was about to embark on a new chapter with a commercial airline in just a few weeks’ time.
His family said: “He lived his life for his family and friends, giving them his constant love, strength, and support.
“Flying was his passion, and he was on the brink of beginning an exciting new chapter with a commercial airline on 23 February; a dream he had worked toward with immense pride and determination.”
GMP investigations are now focused on finding part of the parachute system which contains propellant and hasn’t yet been located.
Finding the device has been ‘very difficult’ due to the nature of the terrain and the wide area over which it may have travelled.
It measures approximately 10 cm in diameter and 30 cm long and has a red anodised finish. It weighs less than 2 kg. It may have a silver metal collar attached at one end.
GMP said: “Please do not handle the device if you see it. If discovered, contact the police immediately via 101 or our Live Chat at gmp.police.uk, quoting log 1056 of 03/02/26.”
Homeless children in Greater Manchester will now get free bus travel to and from school
Emily Sergeant
Children who are currently living in temporary housing in Greater Manchester are set to get extra support with school travel.
In a move that was announced by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) at the end of last week, and following years of campaigning, homeless children living in temporary accommodation are now set to get free school travel on all Bee Network buses.
TfGM says it understands that some children end up a long way from their school when placed into temporary accommodation, and this leaves parents or carers with the difficult choice of either having to move them to a closer school, which ultimately disrupts their education, or having to pay unexpected travel costs.
While the Greater Manchester Strategy – which is the plan for the city region’s next decade – commits to reducing the number of families and children in temporary accommodation, and measures are also being taken to make sure residents have the support they need to ‘access, improve, and retain’ a decent, affordable home, this doesn’t tackle the immediate issue.
Homeless children in Greater Manchester will now get free school bus travel / Credit: TfGM
So, to help those families when they ‘need it most’, free bus travel to and from school is set to be provided, as subject to approval of this year’s Combined Authority budget.
The move comes after Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham asked TfGM last year to look at options to help with the cost of travel.
“Using our locally-controlled Bee Network buses to support families when they need it most is the right thing to do,” Andy Burnham commented.
Of course, the long-term solution is no kids in TA and we’re working with our councils to achieve this in the next few years.
We can do it because GM will soon hit the point where we are building more council and social homes every year than we’re losing through right-to-buy. 👍🏻
“A move into temporary accommodation is often a massive upheaval for families and can be a worrying time. With this measure, the cost of travel to school will be one less thing for families to worry about.
“It will mean parents and carers don’t have to choose between an extra demand on their household budget and keeping their children with friends and teachers they know and trust.”
Emily Sergeant -
22nd November 2022 
