JOSE MANICO FROM EDGBASTON AND WOLVERHAMPTON JAILED FOR 20 YEARS FOR CHILD RAPE IN LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM

In a case that has shocked the local communities and highlighted the ongoing threat posed by dangerous offenders, Jose Manico, a 44-year-old man with connections to Wolverhampton and residing in Edgbaston, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 20 years for multiple counts of child rape and sexual assault. The crimes span over a decade and involve two young victims, one in London and another in Birmingham, both of whom were only six years old at the time of the offences.

Manico’s criminal activities first came to light through investigations into a series of heinous acts committed against a young girl in London. Between February 2003 and August 2004, over an 18-month period, he subjected the girl to five sexual assaults and four rapes. The victim, whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, was between six and eight years old during the period of abuse. Despite the severity of these crimes, no charges were initially brought against Manico when the assaults were reported four years later, in 2008. It was only last year that the now 20-year-old woman made a renewed complaint to police, leading to further investigations.

Meanwhile, in Birmingham, Manico’s offending continued. In August 2014, while living in Birmingham with his wife and children, he was entrusted with babysitting a young boy for a friend. During that weekend, he committed two sexual assaults and one rape against the boy. During the ordeal, Manico threatened to throw the terrified child from a window if he disclosed the abuse. It was only months later that the boy confided in his mother, prompting police to investigate. Manico was identified as the perpetrator in both cases, leading to his arrest and subsequent trial.

Throughout the legal proceedings, Manico denied the allegations, claiming that both victims had fabricated their stories. However, in his absence, a jury at Birmingham Crown Court found him guilty of five counts of rape, six counts of sexual assault, and one count of indecent assault. The jury reached their verdict in less than two hours, underscoring the strength of the evidence against him. Judge Mark Wall QC, presiding over the case, sentenced Manico to 20 years in prison, with an extended license period, emphasizing the seriousness of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to children.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Wall described Manico as a ‘dangerous offender’ who continued to present a significant threat to the safety of children. He stated, “I have no doubt he must be treated as a dangerous offender. He committed these offences at different points in his life separated by a great deal of time. He targeted both a boy and a girl, and on each occasion, they were children of real youth. There is a significant risk he will continue to offend in this way into the future.”

Manico’s case has once again raised concerns about the importance of vigilant law enforcement and community awareness in protecting vulnerable children from predatory individuals. His flight from justice before trial and subsequent conviction highlight the challenges faced by authorities in bringing such offenders to justice and ensuring they are permanently removed from society to prevent further harm.