Greater Manchester Police Detective receives ‘Rising Star’ award for putting away dangerous domestic abuser from Middleton

A detective who led a team that helped secure a 28-year sentence against a dangerous domestic abuser from Middleton has won an award.

Detective Sergeant (DS) Ruth Thompson won the rising star category in the first National Police Chiefs’ Council and College of Policing’s recognition event hosted in London for police officers, staff and volunteers who are working to tackle violence against women and girls.

DS Thompson led a team of detectives who helped secure a 28-year sentence against Andrew Ellison, following an investigation called Operation Cardington.

Operation Cardington was first launched back in February 2022 following a catalogue of rape and domestic abuse and violence disclosures from a woman in her 30s in Middleton.
 

Read more: Middleton man jailed for multiple sexual offences against womenPublished: 31 March 2023

Following Ellison’s arrest on Thursday 31 March 2022, enquiries were made into his domestic history which unearthed a further four women who had been domestically abused by Ellison in separate relationships dating back to 1995.

With the support and bravery of all five victims, the Operation Cardington taskforce made up of detectives from Rochdale’s Crime Investigation Department dedicated their efforts to ensure all five victims received justice and the support they needed.

Skilled and specially trained interviewers conducted two separate interviews with Ellison’s victims covering nearly 14 hours of audio. Over 60 witnesses provided Ruth’s team with statements with over 100 people being contacted across the North-West of England which provided GMP officers with a full range of information and data to be able to build a solid case against Ellison’s crimes.

The evidence gathered, analysed, and put forward to the Crown Prosecution Service resulted in the successful sentencing of Andrew Ellison and provided justice for all five women who suffered his horrific abuse.

In total, Operation Cardington secured 24 years in prison plus a four-year extended licence period against the dangerous domestic abuser for the following offences against five female victims:

• six counts of rape
• six counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm
• four counts of putting a person in fear of violence by harassment
• four counts of false imprisonment
• two counts of assault by penetration
• two counts of making threats to kill
• one count of attempted sexual assault
• one count of inflicting grievous bodily harm
• one count of damaging property
• one count of exposure

 

 

Detective Sergeant Ruth Thompson said: "I am incredibly happy and honoured to receive the Rising Star award at the first NPCC VAWG recognition event. This achievement wouldn't have been possible without the amazing team of detectives who supported me throughout Operation Cardington.

"I am immensely grateful for their dedication and hard work. But, most importantly, I want to express my profound gratitude to the five brave victims of domestic abuse who stood by us. Protecting survivors and seeking justice has been the driving force behind my work, and I truly love what I do. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those affected by domestic abuse and safeguard people across Greater Manchester.”

The recognition event was developed and judged jointly by police forces and representatives from charities including SafeLives, Suzy Lamplugh Trust and Karma Nirvana, alongside the Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, Nicole Jacobs, and police staff associations.

Over 140 entries were received which were initially judged regionally by police and third-sector panels, before being put in front of a national panel that decided the 13 overall winners.

All winning entries had to demonstrate how they built trust and confidence, that their approach was victim-centred, and they had to show impact, including how they were pursuing perpetrators.

Judges were impressed with the effectiveness of many of the entries, giving praise to those officers, staff and volunteers who listened to victims and survivors, and then shaped their activity accordingly.