JAMES MINSHULL FROM RADCLEFFE CAUGHT IN SHOCKING PUB PREDATOR INCIDENT IN BURY AND BRACKLEY STREET

In August 2021, a disturbing case emerged involving James Minshull, a man from Radcliffe, who engaged in predatory behavior towards a young boy and was ultimately apprehended after a series of alarming events in the towns of Bury and Brackley Street.

Minshull's troubling actions first came to light when he took a 13-year-old boy into a pub, raising serious concerns among the staff. The incident unfolded after Minshull, who knew the boy's mother, asked the pub staff if they rented out rooms, a question that prompted suspicion and led to police being called. The young victim, whose identity is protected for legal reasons, had initially met Minshull when he was just 11 years old in August 2017.

At that time, the boy was staying at a friend’s house, where Minshull was also present, as he knew the boy’s friend's mother. The following morning, Minshull woke to find the boy lying on top of him, though both were fully clothed. According to prosecution barrister Hayley Bennett, Minshull then took the boy out of the house, locking the door behind them, and they traveled together by bus to a bowling alley in Bury.

During this period, the boy’s father had given permission for the boy to be taken to a fair by his friend’s mother. However, when the boy was no longer at the house, he was reported missing. The boy later contacted his father from a phone at the bowling alley after mistakenly leaving his own mobile phone on the bus. The father, upon arriving at the bowling alley, found the boy and Minshull had already left, and they were subsequently located at the bus station. The father was understandably furious but was reassured by police that nothing inappropriate had occurred. He asked the police to warn Minshull to stay away from his son in the future.

Despite this warning, Minshull continued to pursue contact with the boy. Less than two years later, on May 7, 2019, Minshull, now aged 32, reached out to the boy, who was then 13, via Facebook Messenger. He sent an apology for the previous incidents and inquired about the boy’s sexuality. When the boy responded that he was gay, Minshull made a disturbing comment, stating that he was too old for him, but then added, “me and you it is then,” after the boy agreed to keep quiet about their communication.

Further, the boy asked if Minshull wanted to see an explicit photograph of him, which Minshull accepted and subsequently sent a photo back. Their conversations continued into the early hours of May 8, during which they agreed to meet later that day in Farnworth. During their online exchanges, they discussed the possibility of performing a sexual act in the toilets of an Asda store, although it is not believed that this act was carried out.

Later that afternoon, Minshull took the boy into the Market Hotel pub located on Brackley Street. Staff at the pub became increasingly concerned about the nature of their conversation. They overheard Minshull instructing the boy to cover up his school uniform and asking whether his phone was password protected. They also heard Minshull referencing photographs and advised him not to show anyone. Minshull then told the staff, “No one can see those pictures. It is only for you to know. I’ll give you a couple of quid in a bit but don’t tell anyone. Ring your mum and dad and let them know what you are doing but don’t mention me. Don’t tell them you’re with me.”

Alarmed by these interactions, the pub staff contacted the police. When officers arrived, they examined Minshull’s phone and discovered indecent photographs of the boy. Confronted with this evidence, Minshull claimed, “Yeah but he sent those to me. He’s the one saying he loves me.”

Minshull, who resides on Parsonage Street in Radcliffe, was arrested and taken into custody. During police interviews, he denied being a paedophile. However, he pleaded guilty to charges including inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, meeting a child after sexual grooming, and abduction.

The victim’s father provided a victim personal statement, revealing the profound impact of Minshull’s actions. He described how his son, who was previously well-behaved, had experienced a significant decline in behavior following the incident. The father explained that his son had been bullied by other children aware of what had happened and had been excluded from school. He also disclosed that his son had taken some of his Co-codamol tablets, which the father believed was an attempt at self-harm or suicide.

Ms. Bennett informed the court that although Minshull had no prior sexual offence convictions, he had recently been imprisoned for breaching a restraining order. The judge, Recorder Jeremy Lasker, sentenced Minshull to three years in prison. In his sentencing remarks, the judge criticized Minshull’s shifting of responsibility onto the boy during police interviews and noted the inconsistency between Minshull’s claims and the evidence presented.

Recorder Lasker emphasized that Minshull’s actions appeared to be targeted and deliberate, and he concluded that the prospects for a non-custodial resolution were too slim. Minshull was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register and will be subject to a lifelong sexual harm prevention order, underscoring the severity of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses.