MICHAEL GRIFFITHS FROM MANCHESTER SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES
A young woman who fell victim to Michael Griffiths, a convicted sex offender from Manchester, has courageously spoken out for the first time about the traumatic experiences she endured during her childhood.Her account reveals the profound and lasting impact that Griffiths's actions have had on her life, highlighting the severity of his crimes and the emotional scars they left behind.
Michael Griffiths, aged 34 and residing in Tameside, was sentenced in October 2023 to a prison term of 11 years and three months after being found guilty of multiple serious sexual offences.
His convictions include 17 counts of engaging in sexual activity with a minor, a charge that underscores the gravity of his misconduct.
In an interview with the Manchester Evening News, the victim, who wishes to remain anonymous, detailed the harrowing ordeal she faced as a child.
She explained that she was only a young girl when Griffiths sexually assaulted her on three separate occasions over several years.
Her testimony sheds light on the emotional turmoil and fear that accompanied her during those dark times.
She recounted her initial feelings of helplessness and the difficulty she faced in confiding in others.
“I knew it was wrong,” she said, “but I couldn’t do anything about it.
I didn’t tell anyone for a year.
My behaviour was off, and I was stressed.
I couldn’t tell anyone why; I just said it was school.” Her fear of Griffiths and the shame associated with the abuse prevented her from speaking out sooner.
She described how her anxiety and feelings of disgust have persisted long after the assaults.
“I was just scared of him,” she added.
“During one assault, I just froze.
I didn’t know what to do.
I did want to tell people, but I was afraid he’d get more comfortable after he realized I wouldn’t say anything.
It made me feel revolted; it was disgusting, and I felt powerless.” The victim emphasized that the trauma has affected every facet of her life, from her relationships to her academic performance.
“It’s affected literally everything,” she said.
“My school grades did drop a bit because of him.
I don’t think I can ever look at anyone and not think they have malicious thoughts.
I don’t think I can ever fully trust a person again because of it.” She credited her counsellor with helping her cope through the difficult period.
“My counsellor has been a big help.
I had really bad anxiety when it all came out.
It just felt so unreal; I wasn’t expecting it to come out like it did.” Despite the ongoing challenges, she is gradually working towards rebuilding her life.
“I’m doing a lot better than when it came out and when it happened,” she said.
“I feel like I’ve come to accept it now.
I know I can’t change it, and it wasn’t my fault.
There’s nothing I can do about it now.
It belongs in the past.
Now I just do what I can to move on.” In addition to the sexual assault charges, Griffiths was also convicted of causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and of causing a child to engage in sexual activity, further illustrating the extent of his criminal behavior and the serious threat he posed to children in the Manchester area.
