At Manchester Crown Court on Friday, 17 July, a man from Manchester received an eight-year prison term after admitting to various child sexual offences.
The case followed an investigation conducted jointly by the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit and Police Scotland.
Thomas Maher, 64 years old from Lane End Road, Burnage, Manchester, pleaded guilty to charges including arranging or encouraging a child sex offence, possessing an indecent image of a minor, taking indecent photographs of a child, and possessing extreme pornography.
The court heard that in September 2025, Maher engaged in online messages with an individual he believed to be an adult male.
During this interaction, he disclosed plans to commit serious sexual offences against the man’s daughter and outlined steps he planned to take to enable the abuse.
Authorities became aware of Maher’s online activities and found he was already on bail for other charges involving indecent images of children.
He was subsequently detained at his residence.
During a search, police recovered two syringes and his mobile phone, which contained further evidence supporting his criminal actions.
In addition to the prison sentence, Maher was placed under an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and required to stay on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.
Court Outcome
Conviction and Sentencing Details
Sentenced
Detected legal outcome
Friday 17 July at Manchester Crown Court, a Manchester man has been jailed for eight years after admitting a series of child sexual offences following a joint investigation by the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit and Police Scotl...
Prison sentence
eight years
Friday 17 July at Manchester Crown Court, a Manchester man has been jailed for eight years after admitting a series of child sexual offences following a joint investigation by the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit and Police Scotland Thomas Maher, 64, of Lane End Road, Burnage, Manchester pleaded guilty to the following offences: Arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence Possession of an indecent image of a child Making indecent photographs of a child possession of extreme pornography
Court order
In addition to his term of imprisonment he was also made subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and an indefinite requirement to be on the Sex Offenders Register
