KEVIN THISTLEWOOD SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR CHILD RAPE IN MIDDLETON

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the Middleton community, Kevin Thistlewood, a man with a troubling history of child sex offences, has been handed a life sentence after being convicted of raping a young girl. The court proceedings revealed a disturbing pattern of manipulation and deception by Thistlewood, who managed to convince probation officers and police that he posed no threat to children, despite his extensive criminal record.

Thistlewood, aged 38 and residing on Throstle Terrace in Middleton, was sentenced to serve a minimum of 16 years in prison following his conviction on charges of child rape and 12 other serious sexual offences. This marked his third appearance before the court for crimes related to child sexual abuse, highlighting a long-standing pattern of predatory behaviour.

The court heard that Thistlewood's criminal history dates back to his teenage years. At just 16 years old, he was convicted of indecently assaulting a boy. Two years later, he was involved in an incident where he dragged another boy from a canal towpath with the apparent intent to commit rape. As a result of this offence, Thistlewood was sentenced to custody and was placed under an extended licence period, a measure intended to prevent future offending.

Despite these interventions and regular assessments by professionals, Thistlewood was able to commit his latest offences, which involved the rape of a young girl. The court was told that throughout this period, Thistlewood repeatedly claimed to be rehabilitated and was convincing enough to persuade authorities of his supposed reform. His ability to deceive those monitoring him was a key factor in his continued freedom and the ongoing risk he posed.

During the sentencing, Judge Christopher Batty addressed Thistlewood directly, stating, “All the offences are aggravated by the fact that throughout this period, you were being scrutinised by the authorities. You explained time after time that you were rehabilitated. You were good at it. So much so that eventually each of them was persuaded that you were telling them the truth.”

The judge emphasized that Thistlewood would only be released from prison when the parole board determined he was no longer a danger to society. He described Thistlewood as “a manipulative and highly dangerous paedophile,” noting that his sexual attraction to children of both sexes was persistent and that no amount of scrutiny had been sufficient to detect or deter his offending. Judge Batty concluded that this risk would likely persist well into the future, underscoring the severity of Thistlewood’s crimes and the ongoing threat he poses to the community of Middleton.