Thomas Maher, 64, has been jailed for eight years after he arranged to commit serious sexual offences against a young girl, discussing plans via social media with a man he believed to be her father
An evil paedophile orchestrated the abuse of a young girl with a man he thought was her father. Thomas Maher, 64, from Burnage, Manchester, has now been held jailed for the sickening plot.
The North West Regional Organised Crime Unit said Maher’s ‘deeply disturbing online activity’ showed ‘a clear intent to commit further offences’ against the child.
The court was informed that in September 2025, Maher sent messages via a social media platform to someone he assumed to be an adult male.
Police reported that during the conversation, he discussed plans to carry out severe sexual offences against the man’s daughter, and detailed measures he planned to implement to enable the abuse.
Officers also made a horror discovery when they searched his vehicle to find two syringes.
In a statement, the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit said: “The police were alerted to the online activity and established that Maher was already on bail for separate offences relating to indecent images of children. He was subsequently arrested at his home address.
“During a search of his vehicle, officers recovered two syringes and his mobile phone, which contained further evidence of his offending.”
Maher, 64, of Lane End Road, Burnage, Manchester, admitted to arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence; possession of an indecent image of a child; making indecent photographs of a child and possession of extreme pornography.
At Manchester Crown Court last Friday, (July 17), he was sentenced to eight years behind bars.
It came after a joint probe by the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit and Police Scotland, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Maher was also handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order with an indefinite requirement to remain on the Sex Offenders’ Register.
Det Con Adam Cronshaw said: “The sentencing reflects the swift and decisive action taken after officers identified Thomas Maher’s deeply disturbing online activity involving discussions of serious sexual harm to a child.
“The evidence demonstrated a clear intent to commit further offences, and his guilty plea reflects the strength of evidence against him.
“This investigation highlights our ongoing commitment to protecting children and ensuring those who seek to exploit or harm them are identified, arrested, and brought before the courts.”