RORY BESWICK FROM HEYWOOD JAILED FOR GROOMING AND CHILD ABDUCTION IN MANCHESTER

In October 2014, a disturbing case emerged involving a 14-year-old schoolgirl who was found hiding in the loft of a property in Heywood, Manchester, after being groomed by a man for several months. The incident came to light when police, acting on a tip-off, executed a search warrant at the residence of Rory Beswick, aged 23, and uncovered the girl concealed above the living space.

Prior to this, authorities had issued multiple warnings to Beswick, explicitly instructing him to cease all contact with the underage girl. These warnings followed concerns raised by her parents, who had noticed her going missing from home on numerous occasions. Her parents suspected that she was engaging with an older man, but she did not initially disclose any details until her arrest.

It was later revealed that the girl had been subjected to grooming and flattery by Beswick over a period of at least four months. The situation escalated in January, a month after police had served Beswick with a formal warning under section 2 of the Child Abduction Act, which prohibited him from having any further contact with her. Despite this, her family tipped off authorities, claiming that Beswick and the girl were planning to meet at his house.

When police arrived at the property, they observed two individuals fleeing from the back of the house and heading upstairs. Beswick answered the door and initially denied anyone else was present. However, a subsequent search uncovered the girl hiding in the loft space, along with a collection of indecent photographs and videos. The girl later disclosed to police a series of serious sexual offences committed against her.

Following his arrest, Beswick faced multiple charges, including child abduction, making indecent images of children, and engaging in sexual activity with a minor. He pleaded guilty to eight counts of producing indecent images, seven counts of sexual activity with a child, and child abduction. Today, at Manchester Crown Court, he was sentenced to six years and three months in prison.

The case first came to police attention in August of the previous year when the girl’s parents contacted the Sunrise Team, a specialized unit in Rochdale dealing with child sexual exploitation. They reported that their daughter was frequently going missing, which prompted an investigation. It was soon established that she had been visiting Beswick for sexual purposes, leading to the issuance of the warning notice that prohibited him from any contact with her.

Despite these measures, the authorities discovered that Beswick was planning to meet the girl, prompting a swift police intervention. The search of his home revealed her hiding in the loft and uncovered evidence of sexual exploitation, including indecent images. The girl later provided further details of the abuse to the police, highlighting the severity of her ordeal.

Detective Constable Ben Harris, of the Sunrise Team, emphasized the grooming process, stating, “Beswick groomed this child over a number of months, she was flattered by his advances and thought he was being kind and affectionate towards her and did not realize he was abusing her.” He also noted the importance of the abduction notice, which was issued to prevent further contact and to protect the girl from ongoing harm.

Harris added, “The abuse has had a terrible effect on the girl and her family, who are only now starting to rebuild their lives. I hope that today, the girl can try to put her past behind her, knowing justice has been served. I want to pay tribute to her strength of character as she looks to move forward with her life.”