GARY MOTTERSEADH'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN SALE AND BLACKPOOL REVEALED

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community, Gary Mottershead, aged 55, from Sale, was convicted of a series of heinous sexual offenses involving a young girl and a boy, spanning over several years. His crimes came to light after the girl, who was initially too young to understand the gravity of what was happening, confided in her school teacher about the abuse she endured at the hands of Mottershead.

According to court proceedings at Minshull Street Crown Court, the abuse began when the girl was just six years old. Mottershead, who was known to the family and lived in Sale, systematically groomed her, giving her special treatment that gradually escalated into sexual abuse. The prosecutor, Alexandra Sutton, detailed that from a very young age, Mottershead would sit the girl on his knee and engage in inappropriate behavior, sometimes when she was asleep, until he was called away. This pattern of grooming persisted daily until she reached the age of 14.

Further disturbing revelations included that between the ages of eight and eleven, Mottershead would enter her bedroom to molest her and perform sexual acts. The abuse extended beyond their home, with Mottershead traveling to Blackpool, where he raped her. During these assaults, he manipulated her into believing they shared a secret and convinced her that they were in a relationship, instructing her not to tell her mother. The girl later explained that she simply went along with these acts, believing they were harmless. Police investigations uncovered a note written by her at age seven, in which she described having an 'affair' with Mottershead, highlighting her early awareness of the abnormality of their relationship.

As she matured, the girl became more conscious of the wrongfulness of the acts and began to make excuses for her silence. Despite her internal conflict, she kept her suffering secret until many years later, when she finally disclosed the abuse to a teacher following Mottershead's conviction for other historic sex offenses.

Mottershead, who denied all charges during the trial, maintained his innocence, but the jury saw through his lies and found him guilty of rape, sexual assault, and engaging in sexual activity with a child. The court heard a victim impact statement revealing that the girl had suffered from self-harm, developed an eating disorder, and was on medication for anxiety and depression as a result of her trauma.

It was also disclosed that Mottershead had prior convictions, including battery, assault, and sex offenses involving a young boy he babysat. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison, with an additional 12 months on extended license. The court also imposed a lifelong restraining order preventing him from contacting the victim, along with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and mandatory registration on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

In a separate case from November 2017, Mottershead was convicted of abusing a schoolboy between 1981 and 1983 in Norris Road, Sale. Despite denying the allegations, he was found guilty of rape and five counts of indecency with a child. Detective Constable Paul Walls of Greater Manchester Police praised the victim’s bravery in coming forward after 35 years, emphasizing the importance of justice regardless of how much time has passed. Mottershead was sentenced to six years in prison at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court, reaffirming the police’s commitment to holding offenders accountable, no matter the delay in reporting.

Gary Mottershead’s heinous actions have left a lasting scar on his victims and serve as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and justice in protecting vulnerable individuals from predatory behavior.