KENNETH CROSSLEY OF CHADDERTON SENTENCED IN MANCHESTER FOR MULTIPLE SEX OFFENCES AGAINST A CHILD

In November 2012, Kenneth Crossley, 62, from Chadderton, was finally behind bars after a series of horrific sex crimes involving a young girl. Crossley had raped a 10-year-old girl and then arranged for her to be attacked by a stranger. A judge described his grooming methods as "skilled and ingenious," which allowed him to manipulate the girl and carry out repeated abuse over three years.

Sentencing at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court, Judge Adrian Smith condemned Crossley, stating, "You dominated her whole childhood and teenage years. She was infatuated by you and submitted to your behaviour because she came to love you."

Crossley, residing on Linksway, was convicted of rape, indecent assault, and aiding and abetting an unknown man to commit rape more than 25 years ago. The court heard that even after his relationship with the girl ended, his abusive behaviour persisted. It was also revealed that Crossley had previously been sentenced to six years in prison for sexual offences against two other girls aged between 10 and 14 in the mid to late 1990s.

The new offenses only came to light when the now-grown woman decided to officially report Crossley. Prosecutor Elizabeth Nichols stated that Crossley denied any wrongdoing but had initially raped the girl when she was just 10, carefully creating opportunities to be alone with her.

The girl was confused and unaware of what was happening at the time, but she vividly remembered experiencing pain. Judge Smith highlighted the manipulation involved, saying, "You made her feel special, and as she got older, you paid her increasing attention. From age 13, she engaged in regular sexual activity with you, became infatuated, and saw you as her boyfriend despite your age in the thirties."

The court detailed an incident at age 15 when Crossley took her to a rural area, picking up another man along the way. The girl did not know this man and did not want to have intercourse, but Crossley participated in the act while lying beside her, which she described as traumatic. The judge emphasized that such manipulation can cause long-lasting psychological harm and acknowledged the damage done to her life.

Regarding Public Safety and Indeterminate Sentences, Judge Smith explained it was his duty to assess whether Crossley posed a danger to the community. He found that he did not, given Crossley's age at release and his lack of re-offending after completing treatment programs.

Crossley was sentenced to 15 years for rape, eight years for aiding and abetting rape, and two years for indecent assault, with all terms running concurrently. He will also be subject to lifetime sex-offender registration and is permanently banned from working with children.