FREDERICK CROOKS OF MANCHESTER JAILED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF SCHOOLGIRL

In December 2008, a man was sentenced to prison for sexually abusing a schoolgirl over a period of more than ten years.

Frederick Crooks, aged 48, of Northland Road, Blackley, received a four-year imprisonment sentence and was also ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely. These penalties follow his guilty plea to six counts of gross indecency at Manchester Crown Court last month.

The charges involve historic abuse allegations. Court proceedings revealed that Crooks coerced the girl into touching him inappropriately and threatened her with disbelief if she disclosed the abuse.

Detective Constable Jon McPherson, from Manchester’s Child Protection Unit, commented: “Crooks subjected his victim to sustained and prolonged sexual abuse. He made her think no-one would believe her if she told anyone, and it has taken many years for her to finally work up the strength to report him.

He added, “He has taken her childhood from her in a truly heinous way, and these experiences affected her both physically and mentally. I hope today’s result provides some small comfort to the victim in knowing Crooks is finally facing the consequences of his actions.”