Greater Manchester child sex offenders jailed
Two men from Greater Manchester have been jailed today for child sex offences against five children.
Karl Sharples, 38, and Mark Whitworth, 57, have been jailed today at Manchester Crown Court, after being found guilty of a total of 66 sexual offences against children as young as seven or eight.
Karl Sharples was jailed for 12 years, and Mark Whitworth was jailed for life, with a with a minimum term of 21 years. The Crown Prosecution Service successfully applied for sexual harm prevention orders for both men to prevent further offending.
Their catalogue of abuse included grooming, sexual assault and rape of their young victims.
Stacey Gosling of the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Karl Sharples and Mark Whitworth are sexual predators and a danger to children.
“They preyed on the innocence of children with no care for the profound effect their abuse would have on the victims, who still suffer today.
“I would like to thank the victims in this case for their incredible bravery and tenacity in helping us to bring their abusers to justice.
”I hope that today's outcome sends a clear message that the Crown Prosecution Service is dedicated to prosecuting those who exploit children to the fullest extent of the law, and that it empowers victims to seek justice.”
Notes to editors
- Mark Andrew Whitworth (05/10/1968) is from Radcliffe, Bury. He was jailed for 54 offences:
- Rape x 3,
- Rape a Child under 13 x 6,
- Sexual Assault x 8,
- Sexual Assault a Child under 13 x 11,
- Assault by Penetration x 6,
- Assault by Penetration Child under 13 x 4
- Cause/Incite a Child to Engage in Sexual Activity x 4,
- Cause a Child under 13 to Engage in Sexual Activity x 4,
- Cause a Child to Watch a Sexual Act x 4,
- Engaging in Sexual Activity in the Presence of a Child x 4.
- Karl Sharples (04/05/1987) is from Atherton, Wigan. He was jailed for 12 offences:
- Rape x 1,
- Sexual Assault of a Child under 13 x 2,
- Sexual Assault x 7,
- Engaging in Sexual Activity in the Presence of a Child x 2.
- Stacey Gosling is a Senior Crown Prosecutor at CPS North West.