ANDREW ELLISON AND HIS HORRIFIC CRIMES IN ROCHDALE
A man described as a remorseless and 'delusional sadist' has been convicted of a series of heinous crimes involving a campaign of rape and violence against women in Rochdale.Andrew Ellison, aged 46, was sentenced to nearly thirty years in prison after a lengthy trial that uncovered the extent of his brutal offenses.
Ellison, who resides in Rochdale, was found guilty on multiple counts following a five-week trial at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court.
The jury convicted him of 28 separate charges, including rape, assault, false imprisonment, and other violent and sexual offenses.
The court heard harrowing details from the victims, all of whom suffered physical and emotional trauma at his hands.
The first four women to testify described enduring relentless physical and verbal abuse, which left them feeling utterly worthless.
Prosecutor Amanda Johnson revealed that Ellison's assaults began in the 1990s, with some attacks involving the use of a bat engraved with the name 'Andy E'.
One victim was left bruised and scratched, and on one occasion, Ellison knocked her unconscious.
During these assaults, he called her degrading names such as 's**g' and 'w***e'.
His abuse extended beyond physical violence to include severe verbal humiliation.
One victim recounted how Ellison once made her sit in her own urine after she wet herself in fear, taunting her with the words, 'Dirty b****.' He also violently assaulted her by smashing her head against a fireplace, resulting in part of her ear being sliced off.
Ellison later raped her, with her describing the attack as feeling like it lasted 'a lifetime.' She recounted Ellison's threatening words: 'I'll show you what 'no' means.' Another woman was subjected to a terrifying assault on the street, where Ellison 'rugby tackled' her, dragged her down stairs, spat in her face, and kicked her so hard that she believed her legs were broken.
After abandoning her in an alley, he threw crockery at her when he lost his temper.
The violence escalated into rape, with Ellison threatening her with a knife, telling her he would 'gut' her if she moved, and expressing suicidal thoughts, claiming he had overdosed and that she 'deserved to watch him die.' A different victim was raped while Ellison threatened to stab her if she moved and told her he would kill her on another occasion.
He also strangled her during the assault.
She documented her experiences in an effort to preserve her memory of the abuse, fearing that she might die.
Her courage was evident when she ran into the street to flag down a passing car for help, only to be dragged back by Ellison, who kicked her and rendered her unconscious.
The final victim described an incident where Ellison exposed himself to her, touched himself inappropriately, and attempted to assault her.
These acts of indecency added to the catalogue of his offenses.
Ellison was arrested in March of the previous year.
During police questioning, he refused to comment and pleaded not guilty to all charges, which included multiple counts of harassment, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, rape, false imprisonment, property damage, threats to kill, grievous bodily harm, assault by penetration, exposure, and attempted sexual assault.
Despite his denial, the jury found him guilty of 28 counts.
The victims expressed ongoing trauma; one stated, 'I'm still hyper vigilant just walking down the street.
It's that constant fear of not knowing what's coming.' Another shared that she still requires medication for her mental health, and a third revealed she wakes most nights with night terrors.
Ellison's defense attorney, Aisha Khan, argued that he harbors no vengeful feelings towards his victims and expressed a desire to participate in courses to help him while in prison.
The court was informed of his history of anxiety and depression.
Judge Bernadette Baxter sentenced Ellison to 24 years in prison, with an additional four years on extended license.
She described him as a 'selfish, careless bully' and condemned his lack of remorse.
The judge stated, 'You are a delusional sadist who has taken no responsibility for your actions and blames anyone but yourself for the sexual violence you inflicted on others.
You have not shown a jot of remorse at any time and continue to deny the offences.
This is very serious offending.
It was a campaign of rape and violence, which had a profound impact on their lives for many years.' The case was thoroughly investigated by Greater Manchester Police, who interviewed over 60 witnesses and conducted nearly 14 hours of interviews with Ellison's victims.
Detective Constable Marshall Trower emphasized the brutality of Ellison's actions, stating that his victims were 'terrorized, tortured, and abused,' and that he made them believe they were at fault.
Trower praised the victims for their bravery and condemned Ellison's lack of remorse, calling him 'an extremely dangerous individual who fully deserves the sentence imposed.' Kirsty Walls, senior crown prosecutor for CPS North West's Rape and Serious Sexual Offence Unit, highlighted Ellison's pattern of seeking sexual gratification through power and control, noting his failure to show remorse.
She commended the victims for their courage in reporting the crimes and expressed hope that justice would help them move forward, knowing that Ellison has been held accountable for his actions.
