Two men charged following historic sexual offences investigation

Rochdale Police Station

Two men have been charged in connection with historic sexual offences against five teenage boys.

Anthony Whitehead, 69, of Bolton, and Mathew Carl Laryea, 65, of Longsight, are both facing multiple allegations, following an investigation into reports of sexual abuse in Rochdale during the 1980s and 1990s.

Anthony Whitehead has been charged with six counts of indecent assault and two counts of inciting a boy to commit an act of gross indecency; Mathew Carl Laryea has been charged with three counts of gross indecency, assault thereby occasioning them actual bodily harm, sexual assault, eight counts of indecent assault and two counts of false imprisonment.

Throughout the investigation detectives have been working alongside partners, including Saint Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre and Survivors Manchester, to provide a multi-agency response to safeguarding the victims and providing them with support.

GMP confirmed the offences were committed in Rochdale.

Whitehead will appear at Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court on 1 April 2022 and Laryea will appear at Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court on 12 April 2022.