Former radio DJ assassin sexually assaulted lady he kidnapped off road in 8-hour ordeal
WARNING, DISTRESSING CONTENT Paul Sharpe, 56, a convicted murderer from Stockport, kidnapped a teenage girl at knifepoint before sexually assaulting her during a terrifying eight-hour ordeal across Greater Manchester and Cheshire
Paul Sharpe, 56, from Stockport, has been jailed (Image: GMP)
A convicted murderer who abducted a girl at knifepoint before sexually assaulting her has been sentenced to life imprisonment. Paul Sharpe held his 15-year-old victim captive during a horrific eight-hour ordeal, as he travelled from one car park to another.
The 56-year-old grabbed the girl in a headlock and forced her into his vehicle on Bradgate Road, in Altrincham, at around 7.30pm on May 18 – alleging that her father owed him money. He travelled to a car park at Manchester Airport and bound her ankles and wrists with a neck tie.
That night, he drove to various car parks across Greater Manchester and Cheshire, and forced alcohol on the girl while sexually assaulting her. At one point, former radio DJ Sharpe masturbated while touching the girl’s feet, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.
He was eventually apprehended by police in a hotel car park in Knutsford at around 3.40am on May 19. The girl had been reported as missing by her mother, while CCTV enabled officers to identify Sharpe’s car, according to the CPS, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Minshull Street Crown Court, Minshull Street Manchester city centre(Image: MEN Media)
Greater Manchester Police says the girl had been studying at Sale Library on May 18 before starting her journey home with friends at around 5:50pm. At 6:10pm, she contacted her parents to inform them she was on her way home.
Twenty minutes later, she spoke to her boyfriend on the phone and said her phone battery was about to die. That was the last time the girl’s loved ones heard from her that evening.
As she strolled down Bradgate Road, the victim spotted a grey Ford Focus parked up and a man donned in a high-visibility jacket ringing doorbells nearby. As she passed by Sharpe crept up behind her, put her in a headlock and threatened to stab her if she didn’t climb into his car, which she eventually did. She was reported missing to the police at 9.22pm.
Earlier that day, Sharpe’s partner had also reported him missing to the authorities. During the horrifying ordeal, he forced her to change her clothes and made chilling threats, all while claiming that the police would be on their tail, according to GMP. The victim had an iPad in her bag with the Find My feature switched on, which allowed her boyfriend to give the police real-time location updates.
Bradgate road, Altrincham(Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)
At 12:09am, the device pinpointed a location on Rostherne Lane in Knutsford. When officers descended on the area, a passerby reported seeing a light-coloured car parked near a graveyard and hearing what sounded like a woman in distress close by.
Officers conducted thorough CCTV and ANPR investigations, identifying a light-coloured Ford Focus that had been in the vicinity at the relevant time, registered to Sharpe. Further enquiries revealed both Sharpe’s and the victim’s mobiles moving through the same areas.
Sharpe subsequently took the victim to a farm where he sexually assaulted her, before driving close to Cottons Hotel in Knutsford. At approximately 3:40am, Cheshire Police officers discovered Sharpe’s car in a hotel car park.
During questioning, Sharpe told police he “had been feeling bad and so he kidnapped the girl thinking it would be easier than kidnapping an adult”. He maintained he wasn’t thinking clearly, claiming his plan was to free her at daybreak before ending his own life, and insisted his motives weren’t sexual though he was “aroused by smelling her feet”, the CPS said.
Sharpe, from Stockport, pleaded guilty to a series of charges at Minshull Street Crown Court in July, including kidnap and sexual assault. He appeared in court again today (September 4), where he was sentenced to life imprisonment with an eight-year minimum term.
Hannah Gee, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West, said: “Just over three months after kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl, convicted murderer Paul Sharpe begins his life prison sentence today. Sharpe subjected his victim to a terrifying ordeal, abducting her at knifepoint and holding her captive for eight hours, during which time he forced her to consume alcohol before sexually assaulting her.
“This was a harrowing experience for the victim and her family. I hope that with Sharpe now back behind bars, they can begin to move forward, knowing that their courage and support throughout the prosecution have helped ensure that this dangerous offender has been removed from our streets.”
Sharpe, of Yates Street, Portwood, was today sentenced to prison for kidnapping, committing an offence with intent to commit a sexual offence, sexual assault, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, threatening another with a bladed article and administering a noxious thing with intent to injure, aggrieve or annoy.
Detective Inspector Karl Perry, from GMP’s Criminal Investigation Department, said: “This was a terrifying ordeal for a young girl who was simply making her way home. Sharpe targeted a vulnerable victim, subjected her to hours of fear and intimidation, and went on to sexually assault her.
“The victim has shown immense courage throughout the investigation and court proceedings. Through her bravery and actions, she no doubt made it harder for Sharpe to carry out whatever acts he had planned.
“The victim and her family are being fully supported by specialist officers and will continue to receive as much support as they need. I hope today’s sentence provides her with some measure of justice and demonstrates our commitment to pursuing dangerous offenders and bringing them before the courts. I would also like to thank the officers, staff and members of the public whose assistance helped us quickly trace Sharpe and safely recover the victim.”
