Latest news with #Darbyshire
Daily Mail
04-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Inside the monsters' lair: How paedophiles raped underage girls in 'filthy hovel'... and the sick nickname they gave it
Shocking pictures have revealed the 'filthy hovel' used by a grooming gang to abuse underage girls after plying them with drugs and alcohol. The decrepit property, in Blackrod near Bolton, was described as a 'lawless den of iniquity' by a horrified judge as he sentenced the 10 depraved abusers this week. They were called 'monsters' by their terrified victims who were forced to down booze and take cannabis and cocaine before being raped. Another girl was so traumatised she told police she would 'rather be dead' than re-live what she experienced in that house of horrors. During the trial it was revealed that the gang had a twisted nickname for their lair – 'the party house'. Chilling images have now revealed the disgusting conditions the girls were forced to endure. Bedrooms covered in dirt, scattered belongings, drugs detritus and revolting grime-covered pillows and duvets. Bins are seen overflowing with rubbish and almost every surface is full with empty beer cans, discarded items or food containers. Both rooms are a mess with clothes and bags thrown around the place without a second thought A cabinet in one of the bedrooms shows crude images of male genitalia surrounded by messy writing and childlike scribbles. Mattresses in the two bedrooms are spotted with unsightly brown patches with clothes, including a novelty Tasmanian Devil tie, left thrown everywhere. The bathroom is covered in dirt and grime with thick greasy patches on the floor and empty shower gel bottles left dumped on surfaces. A single pink toothbrush can be seen chucked at the sight of the filthy toilet. Outside two children's scooters are dumped in the back garden next to forgotten patio furniture and more scattered rubbish. The final six members of the gang were jailed yesterday at Liverpool Crown Court following a three month trial. Victims described the men as 'monsters' led by ringleader Ashley Darbyshire, 28. Speaking on Monday, Judge Simon Medland said as he jailed Darbyshire: 'In time you introduced [one of the victims] to your friends and acquaintances and the community of drug takers, drinkers and wastrels at the Vicarage Road West address of Cory Barrett which had become a lawless den of iniquity, a filthy hovel in which sexual offending, drug taking and drinking took place.' Darbyshire was jailed for 15 years after he admitted a string of 19 offences involving five girls - including one of raping a naked 15-year-old girl after tying her up before another defendant also raped her. A closer look reveals a chilling remnant of what used to be a family home as a young child is pictured Disturbing images show how bins overflow with rubbish and empty crisp packets lie scattered on the floor The court heard Darbyshire had a specific sexual interest in young teenage girls, having deliberately groomed and repeatedly sexually abused one victim from the age of 13. He also pleaded guilty to making Category C indecent images of another girl. The gang members were arrested in 2023 following Greater Manchester Police launching Operation Pavarotti, the force's investigation into child sexual exploitation allegations in the area. The inquiries resulted in thirteen men charged with more than 50 child grooming sex offences including raping girls as young as 14. In total, ten members of the abhorrent gang have been sentenced to almost 87 years behind bars - with one being handed a suspended sentence. Darbyshire would befriend the girls online and messaged them on social media before convincing them to meet him. The callous behaviour came to light after one of the men crashed a stolen car at high speed in 2018 while drunk, causing injury to main, then-15-year-old victim who informed officers what had been going on. Giving victim impact statements to court one girl said: 'This is the story of how these individuals destroyed my life forever. 'I think nothing can hurt me as bad as what they did to me, but I'm still terrified of everything and everyone around me. I can't even go outside on my own. 'I suffered every form of abuse from each of these individuals, and they continue to haunt me every day. What they don't realise is it's not okay to take someone's life just to get a quick fix. 'I'd rather be dead most days than deal with all this mental torture and memories. 'Because of these men, I will never be able to live a normal life again. I'm too scared just to do simple tasks such as going outside or holding down a job, even simply being naked.' To conclude, she added: 'I am forced, by my own brain, to relive every second with these vile people, over and over again. No amount of prison time for them can make that go away. I live in my own prison now and that is what they have done to me.' Ben Lawrence, prosecuting, told the court: 'At various times she [the victim] considered herself to be in relationship with a number of the defendants. 'However, the feeling wasn't mutual. Defendants committed both consensual and non-consensual offences against her. 'They were, of course, content if she consented to sexual activity. However, if she didn't consent they would do it anyway.' He said that the defendants were part of 'a malign friendship group, which sought to prey on her once it became clear that another man had been able to have sex with her repeatedly.' After the hearing, CPS North West Senior Crown Prosecutor Gill Petrovic said, 'The way the men groomed and coerced the young girls from their community for their own sexual gratification was manipulative and appalling. 'They exploited the girls with no concern for them or the impact the abuse from a young age would have on their lives. 'Sexual abuse can cause lifelong physical and emotional trauma. As their abusers begin their sentences, I hope the women can now begin to move forward knowing that because of their evidence and support, the men have been brought to justice. 'The CPS is dedicated to pursuing justice for victims of child sexual abuse and will continue to work with our policing partners to prosecute the perpetrators of these heinous acts - no matter how much time has passed since they committed their crimes.' Darbyshire, 28, was jailed for 15 years, Daniel James Flatters, 34, was jailed for seven years, Richard Haslam, 36, was jailed for 16 years, Jack Poulson, 32, was jailed for 17 years and Corey Barrett, 24, was jailed for 12 years. Brandon Harwood, 25, was jailed for 10 years, Ross Corley, 30, was jailed for two years and four months, Elliott Turner, 26, was jailed for two years, James Fitzgerald, 36, was jailed for five years and six months, and Harvie Aspden, 25, was sentenced to 1 year and 3 months in prison, suspended for two years.
Daily Mail
29-04-2025
- Daily Mail
'Malign' members of Bolton grooming gang who raped and sexually assaulted vulnerable under-age girls in 'den of iniquity' are put behind bars
'Malign' members of a Bolton child sex grooming gang who raped and sexually assaulted vulnerable under-age girls in a 'den of iniquity' have been put behind bars for almost 87 years. Victims of the gang described the men as 'monsters' led by ringleader Ashley Darbyshire, 28, as one said she would 'rather be dead' than be forced to live with the memories of what she had been through. Darbyshire last month pleaded guilty to two offences of raping an underage girl - one occurring after he tied her up - and 10 offences of sexual activity with the same girl while she was aged between 13 and 15 in the Blackrod area. He also admitted raping another underage girl and inciting her to engage in sexual activity, inciting another girl to engage in sexual activity and two offences of sexual activity with a fourth victim who he also incited to engage in sexual activity. He also pleaded guilty to making Category C indecent images of another girl. The gang members were arrested in 2023 following Greater Manchester Police launching Operation Pavarotti, the force's investigation into child sexual exploitation allegations in the area. The investigations resulted in thirteen men charged with more than 50 child grooming sex offences including raping girls as young as 14. Now ten members of the abhorrent gang have been sentenced to almost 87 years behind bars - with one being handed a suspended sentence. Many of the offences involving the main victim took place when she was aged between 13 and 15 at a 'party house' in the Blackrod area near Bolton, the home of one of the defendants. Judge Simon Medland, KC described it as 'a den of iniquity, a filthy hovel of drug taking, drinking and sexual offending.' Darbyshire would befriend the girls online and messaged them on social media before convincing them to meet him. The youngsters were plied with alcohol, cannabis and cocaine by the men, some of whom were drug dealers, and other girls were also groomed and sexually exploited by the gang. Their appalling callous behaviour came to light after one of them crashed a stolen car at high speed in 2018 while drunk, causing injury to main, then-15-year-old victim who informed officers what had been going on. Darbyshire and three other men were sentenced yesterday, and today a further six appeared at Liverpool Crown Court. The gang received immediate prison sentences ranging between 17 years and two years. Darbyshire, of Westhoughton, admitted his role involving five under-age girls and the others were convicted of sex offences following a three month trial. On the day he was due to give evidence he suddenly changed his pleas to guilty. Darbyshire, 28, was jailed for 15 years, Daniel James Flatters, 34, was jailed for seven years, Richard Haslam, 36, was jailed for 16 years, Jack Poulson, 32, was jailed for 17 years and Corey Barrett, 24, was jailed for 12 years. Brandon Harwood, 25, was jailed for 10 years, Ross Corley, 30, was jailed for two years and four months, Elliott Turner, 26, was jailed for two years, James Fitzgerald, 36, was jailed for five years and six months, and Harvie Aspden, 25, was sentenced to 1 year and 3 months in prison, suspended for two years. After sentencing the final culprit today Judge Simon Medland, KC praised the police for their investigative work, singling out PC Robert Booth for his determined efforts and 'calm insistence' that justice would be done. Giving victim impact statements to court one girl said: 'This is the story of how these individuals destroyed my life forever. 'I think nothing can hurt me as bad as what they did to me, but I'm still terrified of everything and everyone around me. I can't even go outside on my own. 'I suffered every form of abuse from each of these individuals, and they continue to haunt me every day. What they don't realise is it's not okay to take someone's life just to get a quick fix. 'I'd rather be dead most days than deal with all this mental torture and memories. 'Because of these men, I will never be able to live a normal life again. I'm too scared just to do simple tasks such as going outside or holding down a job, even simply being naked.' Harvie Aspden, 25, was sentenced to 1 year and 3 months in prison, suspended for two years, for two counts of sexual activity with a child by a young person To conclude, she added: 'I am forced, by my own brain, to relive every second with these vile people, over and over again. No amount of prison time for them can make that go away. I live in my own prison now and that is what they have done to me.' Ben Lawrence, prosecuting, told the court: 'At various times she [the victim] considered herself to be in relationship with a number of the defendants. 'However, the feeling wasn't mutual. Defendants committed both consensual and non-consensual offences against her. 'They were, of course, content if she consented to sexual activity. However, if she didn't consent they would do it anyway.' He said that the defendants were part of 'a malign friendship group, which sought to prey on her once it became clear that another man had been able to have sex with her repeatedly.' After today's hearing, CPS North West Senior Crown Prosecutor Gill Petrovic said, 'The way the men groomed and coerced the young girls from their community for their own sexual gratification was manipulative and appalling. 'They exploited the girls with no concern for them or the impact the abuse from a young age would have on their lives. 'Sexual abuse can cause lifelong physical and emotional trauma. As their abusers begin their sentences, I hope the women can now begin to move forward knowing that because of their evidence and support, the men have been brought to justice.
ITV News
29-04-2025
- ITV News
Man with 'crazed attitude to sex' jailed after abuse of schoolgirl in 'den of iniquity' in Bolton
Mel Barham reports on the sentencing of Ashley Darbyshire at Liverpool Crown Court A man with a 'crazed attitude to sex' groomed a schoolgirl and then enjoyed watching others further degrade her in a 'den of iniquity', a judge has said. Ashley Darbyshire, 28, targeted his victim from the age of 13 with sexualised messages on Facebook and repeated demands to meet her in person. His offending began after he kissed her when she was wearing her school uniform and told her: 'You're gonna do it one day, you might as well just do it now.' The complainant became 'infatuated' with Darbyshire who went on to rape her twice at a house in Bolton, Greater Manchester, described at Liverpool Crown Court as a 'filthy hovel'. Sentencing Darbyshire on Monday 28 April to 15 years in jail, Judge Simon Medland KC told him: 'You cajoled and threatened her and pretended to have affection for her. 'She was simply a simply object to you, a human sexual commodity which you consumed as and when you wished. 'Your treatment of her was coldly sexualised and you manipulated her in your ways. 'In time you introduced her to your friends…and a lawless den of iniquity in which drugtaking, drinking of alcohol and sexual offending took place. 'That introduction helped you to further sexually deprave (the complainaint). 'I am quite sure this process and its outcomes were themselves sexually satisfying for you. 'You enjoyed seeing her being abused in this way. 'You had a crazed attitude to sex which in the main was an exercise of power and control.' The court heard that Derbyshire, who groomed his victim from when he was aged 19, had a 'long history' of sexualised conduct with teenage girls who he also contacted online. Last month he also admitted committing sexual offences against four other complainants including the rape of a girl aged 15. He was due to go on trial last year with his co-defendants but had a brain haemorrhage in August. Due to his condition Darbyshire, of Westhoughton, Bolton, was now unable to recall his offending, the court was told. In February eight other men were convicted at Liverpool Crown Court of various sexual offences against the complainant who was groomed from the age of 13. Also sentenced on Monday was Brandon Harwood, 25, from Bolton, who was jailed for 10 years for offences of rape, attempted rape and sexual activity with a child. Ross Corley, 30, of Bolton, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to two counts of sexual activity with a child and was jailed for 28 months. Harvie Aspden, 25, of Bury, received a 15-month jail term, suspended for two years, after he was convicted of sexual activity with the complainant when he was 17 and she was aged 14. Six other men will be sentenced on Tuesday, 29 April. In her victim personal statement read to the court, the complainant said: 'I'd rather be dead most days than deal with all this mental torture and memories. 'I shouldn't have had to grow up so young and spend the rest of my life 'healing' from what these monsters did to me, leaving me in my own prison I built for myself in my own mind for the rest of my life. 'Ashley destroyed me in every possible way he could. He knew exactly how to work me and what to say to make me do anything he wanted. He had a hold over me and to this day I question why. 'He took everything I had. He trained me like a dog, with drugs and emotions and using behavioural conditioning tactics. 'He ruined my life.' Detective Inspector Samantha Perry, from Bolton CID, said: 'I am glad that this group of abhorrent individuals have been handed substantial sentences and are off the streets of Bolton and where they belong, behind bars. 'I want to thank the victim-survivors that all came forward and put their trust in us to disclose the awful things that were done to them by these predatory men while they were trying to go about their lives as normal teenage girls should be able to do.'
Rhyl Journal
28-04-2025
- Rhyl Journal
Man jailed after abuse of schoolgirl in ‘den of iniquity'
Ashley Darbyshire, 28, targeted his victim from the age of 13 with sexualised messages on Facebook and repeated demands to meet her in person. His offending began after he kissed her when she was wearing her school uniform and told her: 'You're gonna do it one day, you might as well just do it now.' The complainant became 'infatuated' with Darbyshire who went on to rape her twice at a house in Bolton, Greater Manchester, described at Liverpool Crown Court as a 'filthy hovel'. Sentencing Darbyshire on Monday to 15 years in jail, Judge Simon Medland KC told him: 'You cajoled and threatened her and pretended to have affection for her. 'She was simply a simply object to you, a human sexual commodity which you consumed as and when you wished. 'Your treatment of her was coldly sexualised and you manipulated her in your ways. 'In time you introduced her to your friends…and a lawless den of iniquity in which drugtaking, drinking of alcohol and sexual offending took place. 'That introduction helped you to further sexually deprave (the complainaint). 'I am quite sure this process and its outcomes were themselves sexually satisfying for you. 'You enjoyed seeing her being abused in this way. 'You had a crazed attitude to sex which in the main was an exercise of power and control.' The court heard that Derbyshire, who groomed his victim from when he was aged 19, had a 'long history' of sexualised conduct with teenage girls who he also contacted online. Last month he also admitted committing sexual offences against four other complainants including the rape of a girl aged 15. He was due to go on trial last year with his co-defendants but had a brain haemorrhage in August. Due to his condition Darbyshire, of Westhoughton, Bolton, was now unable to recall his offending, the court was told. In February eight other men were convicted at Liverpool Crown Court of various sexual offences against the complainant who was groomed from the age of 13. Also sentenced on Monday was Brandon Harwood, 25, from Bolton, who was jailed for 10 years for offences of rape, attempted rape and sexual activity with a child. Ross Corley, 30, of Bolton, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to two counts of sexual activity with a child and was jailed for 28 months. Harvie Aspden, 25, of Bury, received a 15-month jail term, suspended for two years, after he was convicted of sexual activity with the complainant when he was 17 and she was aged 14. Six other men will be sentenced on Tuesday. In her victim personal statement read to the court, the complainant said: 'I'd rather be dead most days than deal with all this mental torture and memories. 'I shouldn't have had to grow up so young and spend the rest of my life 'healing' from what these monsters did to me, leaving me in my own prison I built for myself in my own mind for the rest of my life. 'Ashley destroyed me in every possible way he could. He knew exactly how to work me and what to say to make me do anything he wanted. He had a hold over me and to this day I question why. 'He took everything I had. He trained me like a dog, with drugs and emotions and using behavioural conditioning tactics. 'He ruined my life.' Detective Inspector Samantha Perry, from Bolton CID, said: 'I am glad that this group of abhorrent individuals have been handed substantial sentences and are off the streets of Bolton and where they belong, behind bars. 'I want to thank the victim-survivors that all came forward and put their trust in us to disclose the awful things that were done to them by these predatory men while they were trying to go about their lives as normal teenage girls should be able to do.'
BBC News
28-04-2025
- BBC News
Bolton grooming gang ringleader jailed for 15 years
The ringleader of a grooming gang who admitted a string of sexual offences against under-age girls has been jailed for 15 Darbyshire, 28, of Westhoughton in Bolton, had pleaded guilty to 19 charges, including rape, involving five girls between 2016 and 2018. Liverpool Crown Court heard he met one of the victims when she was 13 and he was 19, and that he was aware of her age. Ten other members of the gang were set to be sentenced on Monday and Tuesday. The court heard Darbyshire "fostered an infatuation" in the allowed others to engage in sexual activity with her, which prosecutor Ben Lawrence showed a "casual disregard" for her. Judge Simon Medland said the girl gave her evidence in the trial with courage and fortitude, in contrast to the " dishonest and fanciful" evidence given by the defendants. He said Darbyshire's treatment of the girl was coldly sexual "without any hint of warmth or affection."In an earlier trial, eight other men were convicted of abusing one of the girls, who was aged between 13 and 15 at the time of the offences. Many of the offences happened at or near a house in Blackrod near Wigan. Another man, Ross Corley, had already pleaded guilty to two offences of sexual activity with a earlier trial heard the girl considered herself to be in a relationship with some of the men but they did not care whether she consented [to sex] or not. The prosecution said the defendants were part of a "malign friendship group" which preyed on the pleaded guilty in March to three counts of rape, 12 counts of sexual activity with a child, three counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and one count of taking indecent a victim impact statement read to the court, the girl said: "I'd rather be dead most days than deal with all this mental torture and memories. "Because of these men, I will never be able to live a normal life again."Referring to Darbyshire, she said: "Ashley destroyed me in every way he possibly could. He took everything I had from me and when I was a child all I had was myself and my body. "I thought I loved him at first but it very quickly turned to fear. He knew exactly how to work me and what to say to make me do anything he wanted. "He had a hold over me and to this day I question why." Darbyshire was put on the Sex Offenders Register for life. He said "thank you, your honour" as he was sent other members of the gang were also sentenced. Brandon Harwood, 25, of Bolton, received 10 years after being found guilty of one count of rape, one count of attempted oral rape, and one count of sexual activity with a child under Aspden, 25, of Bolton, was found guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a child under 16 and jailed for 15 months, suspended for two years. Ross Corley, 30, was convicted of two counts of sexual activity with a child and sentenced to 28 months in prison and given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. He was put on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 investigating officer Det Insp Samantha Parry said: "I am glad that this group of abhorrent individuals have been handed substantial sentences and are off the streets of Bolton and where they belong, behind bars." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
