A teenage boy has been sentenced after a spate of sexual assaults spanning several months in and around the University of Manchester.
The 14-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was given a 12 month referral order at Manchester Youth Court today, after pleading guilty to 12 counts of sexual assault at a previous hearing.
The charges relate to separate incidents of sexual assault which happened between August and October last year.
The first incident occurred around August, 2013 when the boy sexually assaulted a 32-year-old woman.
He then verbally assaulted a 20-year-old woman sometime between August 20 and August 27.
On August 28, he then sexually assaulted an 18-year-old girl near the Science Park
On September 21, three women, all in their 20s, were sexually assaulted by the boy.
This was followed by five separate attacks on five women, aged 32, 32, 17, 35 and 21, on October 5.
The boy’s final sexual assault took place on a 48-year-old woman on October 9.
Detective Chief Inspector Colin Larkin said: “Thanks to the information provided by the victims and the witnesses who came forward, we were able to make a swift arrest. Following our press appeal, a further six women contacted us to say that they had also been assaulted.
“Although the victims were upset by what happened, each one of them have expressed a genuine wish the boy receives help and does not offend again.”
Anyone who has been a victim of a sexual assault or any other kind of sexual crime, can call Greater Manchester Police on 101 or refer themselves to St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre on 0161 276 6515.
Image courtesy of Mike Peel, with thanks.
