Rochdale film maker Gary Johnston looking for 'Manchester Pusher'

Gary Johnston

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Rochdale film maker Gary Johnston is trying to prove that the notorious 'Manchester Pusher' exists.

Kirkholt man Gary is convinced that he can find the person many believe has been pushing people into the canal in the centre of Manchester, and has been trawling the streets after dark to see what he can catch on film.

Dozens of bodies have been recovered from the city’s canals since 2007, and though the cause of death for the majority have been established by police, 28 deaths still remain unexplained. Greater Manchester Police has said that there is no evidence to support the theory.

Gary, who went to Balderstone High School and grew up on Romney Avenue, Kirkholt, said: “Everyone knows that there is something strange going on. I’m not trying to be a hero, I just think that there’s a chance of finding something.”

Wearing a stab vest, with his camera in hand, Gary walked the city streets speaking to locals to see what they thought. He added: “Rumours of a serial killer are obviously going to generate interest. There’s no saying that there even is one, but maybe, just maybe, I’ll be proved right.”