Men jailed for total of 34 years for sexually assaulting boys in the 80s and 90s

Two men have been put behind bars for grooming and sexually abusing young boys in Rochdale and Manchester in the 1980s and 1990s.

David Marsh, 74, of Northenden, is facing 27 years behind bars, while Anthony Whitehead, 72, of Atherton, was sentenced to 7 years for their appalling campaigns, consisting of 35 sex offences on six teenage boys.

At a trial last month, David Marsh was found guilty of 27 charges of indecent assault (offences occurred between April 1987 and April 1994), one charge of buggery (now referred to as rape) which occurred between December 1987 and December 1990 and one count of attempted buggery (now referred to as attempted rape) which occurred between September 1990 and March 1992. All of his victims were under 16 at the time of the offences.

Anthony Whitehead was found guilty of six charges of indecent assault (offences occurred between March 1991 and March 1992) and his victim was also under 16 at the time of the offence.

At their month-long trial, Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard the painful and difficult testimony from the six male survivors who, at the time the abuse started, were aged between just 9 and 13. Their experiences continued for many years.

It comes after a comprehensive five-year investigation by specialist detectives from GMP Rochdale’s Complex Safeguarding Team, one of 10 such dedicated teams across every town and city in Greater Manchester, and the Child Sexual Exploitation Major Investigation Team.

The investigation began in 2019 after police received a report that one of the survivors confided in a person in authority that he had been sexually abused by two men as a boy.

Investigators found that one of the men was dead but that the second man, Marsh, was alive.

Detectives worked to identify any victim-survivors and work with them at a pace they were comfortable with to gain their confidence and provide vital evidence about their abuse.

As enquiries commenced, police began to form a picture of a sustained campaign of offending by Marsh and Whitehead, who did not know each other, on boys in Rochdale which would involve exploiting their vulnerabilities, taking them to other parts of Manchester whilst grooming them with cigarettes, alcohol and money.

Officers approached a number of other potential male survivors who were able to provide details of their experiences of abuse in an effort to pursue prosecutions with the Crown Prosecution Service.

Six men have been supported throughout by GMP's Complex Safeguarding Team and the Child Sexual Exploitation Major Investigation Team, comprising an expert unit of police, specialist detectives and local partners.

One of the victims has spoken of feeling “knee deep in shame”, with most victims – if not all – having a mistrust of authority, including police.

Throughout the course of the investigation, detectives uncovered evidence of Marsh’s sinister attraction to children – with video footage he had taken in Thailand of him interacting with a group of young boys being used as part of the prosecution case in court.

 

 

Anyone spoken to as part of the investigation has been referred for support at specialist partner agencies and charities, such as the specialist male survivor organisation in Greater Manchester, We Are Survivors and the St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre.

Detective Constable Andrea Richards, who has worked on this case from the start, said: “I want to pay a massive tribute to all the male survivors who have played a pivotal role in bringing these abusers to long-awaited justice.

"It was an incredibly difficult decision for them to go through the process, but by doing so and putting their trust in the team they have ensured that Marsh and Whitehead face spending most of their remaining years behind bars.

“I commend and thank everyone we approached during the investigation, every single one of you deserves to be on your own unique healing journeys.

“I want to make clear, none of the male survivors should feel they have to carry the shame or guilt in this case, it is not theirs to carry. I hope that they all feel that they have finally got some justice.

“These depraved men are exactly where they should be, in jail, away from causing our communities and those within it any further harm. 

“There may be others affected by Marsh and Whitehead’s separate campaigns of offending, and we would like to let all survivors of sexual abuse know that we are here to listen to them when they are ready, at a pace they feel comfortable with. 

“There are also several agencies, that are not the police, who we work closely with to support survivors for those who would feel more comfortable taking this approach. 

“We continue to be on an upward improvement journey in how we tackle CSE – whether it be the abuse of children yesterday or today.

“We hope that this conviction, and our continuously improving outcomes for victims, give survivors that we will ensure time is no barrier to justice.”

Assistant Chief Constable Steph Parker, GMP lead for vulnerability and public protection, said: “The commendable bravery of the survivors, and the immense tenacity of our detectives deserve great credit for bringing to justice two men who have finally been caught up by the severity of their despicable crimes.

“This investigation is a telling demonstration of how GMP does not allow the passage of time to be a barrier to justice. It has relied on brave victim testimony, many months of thorough enquiries and information sharing from partners, as well as ensuring we worked with specialist agencies to safeguard survivors and give them all of the support that they need.

“This old-fashioned detective work coupled with our modern approach to tackling child sexual offending represents a GMP that is determined to protect survivors and pursue perpetrators.”

Wendy Chappell, District Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West’s rape and serious sexual offence unit, said: “Marsh conducted a vile campaign of sexual abuse on children as young as nine, while Whitehead sexually abused a fourteen-year-old boy. They acted solely for their own self-gratification, with no thought for the life-changing trauma their abuse would cause.

“These convictions send a very clear message that the Crown Prosecution Service, working alongside our law enforcement colleagues, will relentlessly pursue justice for victims and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, whenever that abuse took place.

“I would like to thank the men for reporting their abuse and making it possible to build this case and bring these sexual predators to justice.”

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If you or someone you know has been raped or sexually assaulted, we encourage you not to suffer in silence and report it to the police, or a support agency so you can get the help and support available.

- Saint Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Manchester provides a comprehensive and co-ordinated response to men, women and children who live or have been sexually assaulted within Greater Manchester. 

They offer forensic medical examinations, practical and emotional support as well as a counselling service for all ages. Services are available on a 24-hour basis and can be accessed by calling 0161 276 6515.

- Greater Manchester Rape Crisis is a confidential information, support and counselling service run by women for women over 18 who have been raped or sexually abused at any time in their lives. Call on 0161 273 4500 or email help@manchesterrapecrisis.co.uk

- Survivors Manchester provides specialist trauma informed support to male victims in Greater Manchester who have experienced sexual abuse, rape or sexual exploitation. Call 0161 236 2182.