Ashley Darbyshire

Ashley Darbyshire, 28, of Bolton, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court following his guilty pleas to a series of sexual offences involving five girls between 2016 and 2018. The charges included three counts of rape, 12 counts of sexual activity with a child, three counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and one count of making indecent photographs of a child.

During sentencing, the court heard that Darbyshire acted as a ringleader, exploiting a vulnerable victim who was 13 years old when the abuse began. Judge Simon Medland highlighted the defendant's cold and predatory behaviour. In a victim impact statement, the survivor detailed the severe psychological trauma caused by the offences.

Darbyshire was initially sentenced to 15 years imprisonment, which was subsequently increased to 18 and a half years by the Court of Appeal. Additionally, he was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.