MICHAEL HOPWOOD AND SHOCKING SEX CRIMES IN MANCHESTER
A man identified as Michael Hopwood has been sentenced to serve a minimum of 14 years in prison following a conviction by a jury for heinous sexual offenses involving two young girls.Hopwood, aged 27 and a resident of Openshaw, was found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting the minors, both of whom were under the age of 12 at the time of the offenses.
The court proceedings revealed a disturbing pattern of abuse carried out by Hopwood over a period of time.
Despite steadfastly denying accusations, including three counts of rape, two counts of attempted rape, four charges of sexual assault, and one charge of engaging in sexual activity in front of a child, the jury convicted him after careful deliberation.
The judge subsequently sentenced Hopwood to a lengthy prison term in recognition of the gravity of his crimes, accompanied by an extended license period designed to monitor his conduct even after his release.
The case was brought before Manchester Crown Court, where Prosecutor Peter Cadwallader detailed the impact of Hopwood’s actions.
He recounted that one of the victims, overwhelmed with emotion, went into her school towards the end of the previous year visibly upset.
She confided in her friends that she had been raped, although she was too young to understand what that term fully meant.
Upon her disclosure, she was deemed credible enough by adults and subsequently reported the incident to the police.
She described in detail to officers how Hopwood had climbed on top of her during the assault, with the court concluding that one of her descriptions constituted an oral rape.
Further investigations led police to interview the second girl, who provided graphic accounts of how Hopwood had molested her.
She revealed that the abuse had begun during the summer period, and she admitted to police that she had not spoken about her ordeal earlier due to fear.
During the police interviews, she described her suffering in vivid detail, painting a harrowing picture of the exploitation she endured.
When Hopwood was taken into custody, he maintained his innocence and denied all allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior.
However, those responsible for protecting the victims expressed relief that he would be going to prison, as they believed he could no longer threaten or harm the girls.
Both victims, who are entitled to lifelong anonymity under the law due to the nature of their victimization, have been profoundly affected by the abuse.
One of the girls, who was once cheerful and confident, has visibly changed and no longer exhibits her previous bubbly demeanor.
The other girl, described as initially sweet and innocent, has become emotionally fragile, often overwhelmed whenever she makes mistakes or experiences emotional distress.
Their families spoke emotionally in court, with one family member describing Hopwood as a "monster" and stating, "If it was up to me, I would lock him up and throw away the key.
I believe people like him should be locked away forever." The court heard that Hopwood had no previous criminal record, which initially surprised some members of the courtroom.
His defense lawyer, Joanne Shepherd, emphasized his prior good character and noted that Hopwood had been suffering from depression for a significant period, suggesting these factors may have influenced his behavior.
In delivering her sentence, Judge Hilary Manley underscored the severe impact of the crimes.
She stated that the younger victim had courageously confided in her friends and had been groomed by Hopwood, who then assaulting her sexually.
She also described how the older girl had been groomed and demeaned by Hopwood, who had attempted to manipulate her by offering sweets.
The judge emphasized that Hopwood’s actions had profoundly damaged both girls’ innocence and well-being.
As a result of his crimes, Hopwood was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
He will be eligible for parole after serving 14 years, but an additional extended license period of eight years was also imposed.
This means that even if he is released early, he will remain under supervision for a further 14 years, reflecting the seriousness with which the court treated his offenses.
