IAN THOMPSON SENTENCED FOR ABUSE IN BOLTON

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the Bolton community, Ian Thompson, a 43-year-old man residing in Tudor Court, was convicted of multiple heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse of young boys he was entrusted to care for. The offences, which took place between January 1, 2008, and June 21, 2008, occurred predominantly at Thompson's residence and involved several boys, all under the age of 12.

Thompson pleaded guilty to a series of serious charges, including four counts of sexual assault on a child, five counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child, one count of participating in sexual activity in the presence of a child, one count of causing a child to observe a sexual act, and three counts of exposure. The court heard that a disturbing pattern of abuse was carried out over several months, with Thompson often hosting multiple victims overnight at his home.

During these stays, Thompson would engage in inappropriate and criminal behavior, sometimes involving more than one boy at a time. Evidence revealed that he would play games such as strip poker with the children, further exploiting their trust and innocence. Additionally, he forced some of the victims to smoke cigarettes and made threatening remarks, including telling one boy that he would take him to Belmont and drown him if he ever went to prison.

The abuse only came to light after one of the victims confided in his mother, prompting a police investigation. Detective Constable Mike Cooke, who led the inquiry, explained, “Thompson is a single male who, over a period of many months, gained the trust of his victims’ parents under the pretence that he was minding their children overnight at his flat. Instead, he took full advantage of the young boys and carried out numerous sexual acts for his own depraved gratification.”

He added, “Fortunately, the boys knew what was happening to them was wrong and came forward to report the abuse. This has been a difficult and lengthy police inquiry, but I am pleased they have been spared the ordeal of giving evidence. Thompson has been jailed for a long time and can no longer pose a threat to his victims or their families.”

Today, at Bolton Crown Court, Ian Thompson was sentenced to an indeterminate sentence for public protection (IPP), with a minimum term of four years behind bars. The court’s decision reflects the severity of his crimes and the danger he posed to children in his community. The community and the victims’ families can now find some measure of relief knowing that Thompson will be incarcerated for a significant period, preventing him from causing further harm.