A man has been jailed after killing his girlfriend in Manchester. 

Ryan Ingham (09/06/1987) of Southdown Crescent, Blackley was found guilty of murder and jailed for life with a minimum term of 16 years at Minshull Street Crown Court today, Monday 7 July 2014. 

On Wednesday 15 January 2014, Ingham and his girlfriend Caroline Finigan had been drinking on a night out in Manchester city centre. 

At around 1.10am the following morning, they decided to go home and an argument started on Shudehill near to the junction with Hannover Street. 

Witnesses saw Ingham run up and punch his girlfriend, sending her crashing to the floor and knocking her unconscious. He moved her before an ambulance was called. 

She was rushed to hospital in a critical condition but died later that evening on Thursday 16 January 2014. 

Ingham was arrested and charged with her murder. 

Senior Investigating Officer Duncan Thorpe from the Major Incident Team said: “Ingham and Ms Finigan had been together for a couple of years and had regular arguments. However, this does not excuse what he did and only he knows what made him attack her in such a way. 

“Ms Finigan’s family have been left deeply upset and cannot believe someone who claimed to love her could kill her. 

“Ingham himself will have to live with the fact his reckless and thoughtless action took the life of an innocent woman. 

“If you are in an abusive relationship or know someone that is you can seek help by contacting the Women’s Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0161 636 7525 or visit endthefear.co.uk. Report all incidents of domestic abuse to police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. Always dial 999 where there is a threat to life or crime in progress. 

“GMP takes all reports of domestic abuse seriously.  If you’re a friend, family member or neighbour who witnesses signs of domestic abuse report it to the police. 

“Domestic abuse is not acceptable under any circumstances and there are support services available for victims and families from the report to conviction.” 

A child sex offender has been brought to justice thanks to the tenacious efforts of Greater Manchester Police.

Khawaja Iqbal (09/09/1972), of Whinstone Way, Chadderton, admitted sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl at an earlier hearing.

At Minshull Street Crown Court today, Monday 7 July 2014, he was sentenced to five years in prison. He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register and made the subject of a sexual offences prevention order (SOPO).

Shortly before midnight on 25 August 2013, Iqbal – who was working as a delivery driver for a Hollingwirth takeaway – spotted the 12-year-old girl walking alone in the Mottram area.

He pulled up alongside her and offered her alcohol and cigarettes.

The girl got in and he drove to a local garage, where his car – but not his registration – was caught on CCTV.

He then drove to a secluded country lane and sexually assaulted her, before leaving her at the end of the road and driving off.

The girl reported what had happened and an investigation as launched.

DNA evidence was recovered, but early analysis didn’t identify the offender.

Through investigative techniques the type of car was identified, leaving officers with a list of 192 such vehicles (Nissan Micra) registered in the area.

Various enquiries were conducted and the owners of 21 of those vehicles – including Iqbal – were located and interviewed.

Iqbal was subsequently forensically linked to the crime.

During his police interview he claimed it was the victim who had asked for a lift as well as cigarettes and alcohol and denied sexually assaulting the girl, instead alleging DNA had been planted “maliciously” by her.

Detective Sergeant Dan Appleby, from the ‘Phoenix’ child sexual exploitation unit at Tameside, said: “Iqbal preyed on a lone, young and vulnerable girl, who he subjected to a sexual assault before leaving her stranded in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night.

“Child Sexual Exploitation is a heinous crime and identifying and bringing to justice Iqbal and those of his ilk is a priority for the Force. As reflected in this case we will do whatever it takes to track down those that offend against vulnerable children.

“Iqbal in particular is an vile individual who sought to put the blame on the victim, going so far as to suggest he had been framed by her.

“It was only in the face of such compelling evidence that he finally accepted his guilt and today justice has prevailed.”

Two men threatened and robbed four people as they sat in a car in Oldham.

At around 1.50am on Monday 7 July 2014, four men, aged 19, 21, 21 and 23 were sat in a VW Golf on Busk Road.

As they talked, one offender approached the car, put a gun to the driver’s head and told him and his friends to get out. A second offender carried an axe.

The men were then told to empty their pockets and hand over the keys. Both offenders made off in the car but stalled it. They ran off towards Denmark Street.

Both men are described as being Asian and 5ft 7in tall. One was of a large build and wore a blue balaclava, blue cardigan jacket, khaki Timberland boots and held a pistol. The second wore a sock hat covering his face, black cardigan jacket and held an axe.

Detective Constable Ged Hollywood said: “The four men were minding their own business and happily talking to each other when they were targeted.

“Not only were they told to get out of the car but one of them had a gun held to his head. This must have been terrifying for him and his friends but thankfully they did not receive any physical injuries.

“The offenders took their phones before trying to steal the car but left on foot after they stalled it. I would appeal to anyone who may have seen these men either committing the crime or leaving the scene, to contact police as soon as possible.”

Anyone with information should phone police on 0161 856 9063 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward after a family was assaulted and robbed in their own home in Leigh.

At around 11.40pm on Wednesday 2 July 2014, a family was asleep in their home on Coronation Drive, Higherfolds, when they heard a loud bang downstairs. Having forced their way into the house, four masked men then burst into the victim’s bedroom and began to attack him whilst demanding money. They also went into another bedroom and attacked the victim’s family, before stealing property and escaping.

The men are described as being between 5ft 7in and 5ft 10in tall, having local accents and all were wearing dark clothing and balaclavas.

Detective Constable David Fairhurst, of Wigan division, said:

“A group of four masked men forced their way into a family home and attacked a family, before stealing from them.

“This was a horrific and violent attack and a terrifying experience for the victims, who are understandably distraught by this event.

“We’re urging anyone who may have seen a group of men acting suspiciously in the area to contact police immediately, as we want to find the offenders as soon as possible.”

Anyone with information should call 0161 856 7225 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Two men have been threatened at gunpoint as they walked in Worsley.

At 11.45pm on Sunday 6 July 2014, a 27-year-old man and 29-year-old man were walking on Park Road in the direction of Stanley Road.

As they approached the railway bridge, two men came from behind the bushes of a nearby embankment.

One offender carried a sawn off shotgun and stole the 27 year old’s phone and money.  The second man targeted the second victim, stealing his phone and money.  It is believed he was carrying a pistol.

Both then ran off towards the bridge and down the embankment.

The man with the shotgun is described as being 6ft 2in tall, of slim build, had his face covered and spoke with a local accent.

The second was 5ft 10in tall, wore dark clothing and had his face covered.

Detective Constable Steve Powell said: “Both victim’s did not know each other and were walking about a metre apart before they were targeted near to the bridge.

“We believe the men were hiding in bushes, waiting for someone to walk past before they have targeted them.

“Although no one was physically hurt, both men have been left traumatised by their ordeal.  I would ask anyone who may have either seen the robbery or seen two men running down the embankment near to the bridge, to contact police as soon as possible.”

Anyone with information should phone police on 0161 856 5097 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Police have released an efit after a man performed a sex act in front of a 14-year-old girl in Tameside.

At 8.10pm on Wednesday 18 June 2014, the teenager was walking on Birch Lane, Dukinfield when a man started to talk to her from a parked car.

As he spoke, she noticed he had his hand down his pants and believed he was performing a sex act before she ran off.

Police Constable Ryan Magee said: “Although traumatised, the girl has been able to give us a detailed enough description for us to create an efit.

“I would ask people to take a good look at the image and if they recognise him or believe they may have seen him parked in a small black car on Birch Lane, to phone us.”

Anyone with information should phone police on 0161 856 9350 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 55 111.

A taxi driver was threatened at knifepoint in Gorton.

The 49-year-old had parked his car on Hyde Road, just opposite the Total petrol station at 12.35am on Tuesday 8 July 2014.

He made a phone call before he realised two men were approaching his car.  One sat in the front passenger seat while the other sat in the back.

The man in the front held a knife to the victim’s throat while the second searched his bag, took money and his iPhone.

They demanded money and tried to steal his sat nav but when they could not remove it, they walked off towards Chatsworth Road.

Both are described as in their 40s, of large build and spoke with local accents.

Detective Constable Dave Berry said: “The offender with the knife threatened to kill the victim if he did not give him more money.  He told them that was all he had before they attempted to take the sat nav.  When they realised it was wired into the car, they ran off.

“Clearly this has been traumatic for the victim as he did not know whether he would come to any harm. Luckily, he did not suffer any injuries.

“I would ask anyone who may have been on Hyde Road, near to the petrol station at around the same time of the robbery to call us.”

Anyone with information should phone police on 0161 856 3521 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

A total of 22 people have been arrested today (Wednesday 9^th July) as part of a high-profile operation.

Around 250 officers were involved in Operation ImpACT − a series of dawn raids targeting organised crime and illegal drugs. The operation is one of the largest ever undertaken by the force.

The 22 people were arrested on suspicion of drugs offences - they are currently helping police with their enquires.

Warrants were executed at a number of properties in Blacon, Hoole and The Lache. Specialist officers were used to gain entry to the properties and officers, who are experts in search techniques, are now carrying out detailed searches of all the addresses.

Superintendent Paul Williams, Crime Manager for the Western Area, said: “The strike phase this morning is the culmination of many months of work focusing on a number of individuals suspected of being involved in organised crime/illegal drugs. Over that period intelligence and evidence has been gathered and this has culminated today in these high-profile raids.

“Operation ImpACT reinforces the commitment that the police and partner agencies have in targeting those people that undermine our communities and bring misery to residents through their involvement in organised crime and illegal drugs.

“This sort of behavior can have a major impact on local communities. It is an issue the force takes extremely seriously and we devote all the resources we can to tracing those responsible and disrupting their behaviour.”

The majority of the warrants have been carried out as a result of information that has been passed on by the local community.

Following the execution of the warrants local neighbourhood officers are carrying out high-visibility patrols to offer reassurance to local residents.

Officers will be handing out leaflets to homes in the areas affected and talking to members of the local community about the action that has been taken.

Superintendent Williams added: “We hope that the success of today′s operation reassures local people that we are listening to what they are saying and are taking those concerns seriously. Community intelligence is vital and helps us to build up a bigger picture of what is happening in a particular area and to work out the best ways of dealing with any issues.

“The dedication of the staff involved in the operation today has been outstanding and I would like to assure residents that we will always act on the information provided to us. The corrosive effect that drug abuse and associated criminality has on our communities is well known, and we are committed to a relentless focus on tackling the problem and targeting those involved.”

Information from members of the public is vital in the fight against drug related crime. We would urge anyone with any information in relation to drug use and supply in their area to get in touch on 101. Information can also be passed on anonymously, via Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.

Merseyside Police can confirm three people, two males and one female, have been charged in relation to a robbery of a bank in Tuebrook on Monday, 7 April.

Officers were called to the Lloyds TSB bank on West Derby Road after the security alarm was set off at 4.30pm.

A lone offender is believed to have walked into the bank from the direction of Snafell Avenue armed with a handgun and threatened the male cashier.

A quantity of cash was then handed over and the offender left the bank on foot.

On Monday, 30 June enquiries led officers to arrest a 17-year-old male from Old Swan and 43-year-old woman, Pauline Vaughan, of MacFarren Street, Old Swan. Both were questioned and subsequently charged with conspiracy to commit robbery and bailed to appear at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 22 July.

On Tuesday, 8 July a 41-year-old man, Derek Medlicott, of MacFarren Street, Old Swan was also arrested and subsequently charged with robbery and possession of an imitation firearm.

Eight people have been charged as part of Operation ImpACT – a high-profile drugs operation in the Western area of Cheshire.

The six men, one woman and one juvenile are all due to appear before Chester Magistrates′ Court at 10am tomorrow morning (Thursday 10 July).

Warrants were executed at properties in Blacon, Hoole and The Lache, as well as addresses in Merseyside and North Wales. A total of 34 people were arrested.

Following the execution of the warrants, local neighbourhood officers have been carrying out high-visibility patrols to offer reassurance to local residents.

A further 10 people have been arrested this morning as part of Operation Impact − a high-profile operation targeting organised crime and illegal drugs.

It brings the total number of arrests today to 32 − the 27 men and five women are currently helping police with their enquiries.

Warrants were executed at a number of properties in Blacon, Hoole and The Lache, as well as addresses in Merseyside and North Wales.

Information from members of the public is vital in the fight against drug related crime. We would urge anyone with any information in relation to drug use and supply in their area to get in touch on 101.

Information can also be passed on anonymously, via Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.

Officers investigating after two young girls were recently reported missing from their Manchester home now believe they are in Syria.

The North West Counter Terrorism Unit is now investigating the reason for travel and whether they were assisted.

Detective Chief Superintendent Tony Mole, Head of the NWCTU, said: “First, I want to stress that the welfare of these two teenagers is our overarching priority.

“Two 16-year-old girls left the UK on 26 June 2014 and we believe that they have since entered Syria.

“Since this story broke in the media at the weekend there has been a lot of speculation about why the girls left the country.

“At this stage we don’t know for sure why they are there or exactly who they are with.

“As this is now developing into an investigation, the North West Counter Terrorism Unit is leading on this inquiry.

“This investigation now has two main strands – to safeguard the girls wherever possible and to assess any further lines of enquiry as the investigation progresses.

“They are clearly posing a threat to themselves and potentially the community and their family and friends are concerned for their well-being.

“This is why the National Prevent Programme is key. Our Prevent officers work in the community – out there in the real world, dealing with real lives – to help those at risk of being radicalised or influenced into travelling to a volatile and dangerous region.

“It is also important that we thank the community for their assistance in this matter while reminding them and the wider media that the family remain very concerned for the safety of their daughters.

“If you are concerned about a friend or family member who has gone missing, or if you have any information that could help, you should contact the police via the 101 non-emergency number.”

“If you see or hear anything that could be terrorist-related trust your instincts and call the Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321.”

As part of the drive to clamp down on drug activity and its associated crime, Cheshire Police has successfully applied for a ‘Crack House Closure Order′ at a Northwich house.

Officers submitted the closure notice under s2 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2001 for 95 Drillfield Road, at Chester Magistrates Court, which today (Wednesday, July 9) approved the order.

The court order provides that no-one is allowed into 95 Drillfield Road for a period of ?? months. Anyone who does enter is liable to arrest and up to six months′ prison, or a £5,000 fine, or both.

It followed a s1 Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2001 closure notice, issued by Superintendent Paul Williams on July 7, which restricted access to the address to the occupant Casey Wakeling. The interim order was put in place to protect the community from further harm from drug dealing and drug use linked to the address and its occupant.

Local officers have been working hard to rid the area of Water Street, Drillfield Road and Waterbank Row of drug dealers and drugs users and the associated anti-social behaviour linked to their illegal activities.

Residents from Drillfield Road have suffered from drug dealers and users using the local area and 95 Drillfield Road as a focal point for many months. Today′s action is intended to support the residents and send a very clear message to any community that drug dealing in any form will not be tolerated in Northwich.

Inspector Paul Loughlin, of the Northwich Neighbourhood Policing Unit, said: “We would like to thank local residents who have provided intelligence and information which has made today′s action possible.

“We are currently looking at other addresses in Northwich, which information and intelligence indicates are being used for the use and supply of controlled drugs. We will use these powers again to stop the addresses being a focal point for drug crime.

“We are committed to protecting the community from drug related crime and anti-social behaviour. Any resident involved in this type of crime should be aware that we will take action against them which could ultimately leave them homeless and facing a lengthy prison sentence.

“Inspector Colligan and his team will continue to support the residents of Drillfield Road. We aim to return the area once again as a peaceful place to live.”

A masked thief smashed his way into a house in Bolton and threatened a mother and baby with a gun.

It happened at about 12.15pm on Tuesday 8 July 2014, when a man used a brick to smash through the patio doors of a house on Widcombe Drive in Breightmet.

He was holding a gun and pointed it towards the 30-year-old woman who was inside with her 10 month old baby.

The thief marched the woman upstairs with her baby in her arms and demanded jewellery and cash.  He ransacked the bedrooms and searched through cabinets and draws.

He stole a gold watch, the woman’s engagement ring and a small amount of cash and then ran out of the house and jumped over the fence in the back garden.

The offender is described as white, about 6ft tall, of slim build and spoke with a Bolton accent.

He was wearing a black woollen balaclava and black jogging bottoms and a black long sleeved top.

Detective Inspector Charlotte Cadden from Bolton division, said: “This woman was terrified when a man smashed his way through the patio doors of her house.

“He held a gun towards her and her young child and marched them up the stairs and demanded money and jewellery.

“Thankfully neither the woman or her child were injured, but they have been left traumatised by the ordeal.

“We are determined to identify the man and are asking for anyone who may have seen him before or after the break-in to get in touch with us.

“Your information could be vital to our investigation so please call us if you saw, heard or know anything.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 5761 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

A man has been charged with numerous historic sexual offences against children.

Alan Dawson (born 29/09/1950), of Newcroft Road, Urmston, is charged with the rape of a child under 16 and 14 counts of indecent assault on a female child under the age of 16.

He is due before Salford and Manchester City Magistrates’ Court on 22 July 2014.

The charges follow an investigation by Greater Manchester Police’s Public Protection Investigation Unit into reports of historic abuse that took place in the Didsbury area of Manchester between the 1960s and 1980s.

The charges relate to four different victims, all women.

Specially-trained officers are continuing to provide support and advice to the women.

Anyone who is affected by this investigation should call DC Terina Arthern on 0161 856 6063.

Greater Manchester is nationally recognised as a model of good practice in terms of support services available to victims.

- 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.

- You can call Greater Manchester Police on 101, or alternatively people can refer themselves to St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre on 0161 276 6515.

- St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Manchester provides a comprehensive and coordinated forensic, counselling and medical aftercare service to anyone in Greater Manchester who has experienced rape or sexual assault. Services are available on a 24-hour basis and people can access them either as a self-referral or via Greater Manchester Police.

- Manchester Rape Crisis is a confidential support service run by women for women and girls who have been raped or sexually abused. Confidential helpline: 0161 273 4500. Black and Minority Ethnic helpline: 0161 273 4514.

- Survivors Manchester offers support and counselling for adult male survivors of sexual abuse and rape, regardless of when the event happened. Contact 07919 246 267.

Police have seized heroin with an estimated street value of more than £2million.

On Monday 30th June 2014, officers from Lancashire Constabulary’s Serious & Organised Crime Unit executed a search warrant at an address on Montrovia Crescent in Liverpool.

Recovered during the search was what has now been forensically identified as around 7kilos of extremely high purity heroin, with an estimated street value in excess of £2 million.

The heroin (pictured), which was found in a bag in a bedroom at the house, was 70 per cent pure. Heroin sold on the street usually ranges in purity from 20 to 50 per cent.

A suspect, James Taylor, 40, of Montrovia Crescent, was not present at the premises and is now wanted on suspicion of Conspiracy to supply class A drugs, contrary to section 1(1) of the criminal law act 1977.

His details have been circulated nationally and internationally (his picture attached).

A 28 year old woman from Liverpool was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of heroin and bailed until August.

Detective Inspector Simon Brooksbank, of Lancashire’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said: “This is just another example of our commitment to causing significant disruption to organised crime gangs who operate in our communities.

“The officers on this unit are focused on targeting these groups, disrupting their activities and removing large quantities of controlled drugs which no doubt would have been destined for the streets of the county.”

Greater Manchester Police is appealing for people to ‘Give up the Gun’ with a two week amnesty for the surrender of firearms and ammunition, starting at 7am on Saturday 12 July.

It’s been six years since the last firearms amnesty in Greater Manchester, where the force asks members of the public to surrender unlawfully held or unwanted guns and ammunition to help prevent them getting into the wrong hands.

Many firearms are held in innocence and ignorance of their illegality or are overlooked and forgotten in people’s homes. The amnesty gives holders the chance to dispose of the firearm or ammunition with no questions asked, by simply taking it to a local police station and handing it in.

The amnesty will be held for two weeks from Saturday 12 July at 7am to 11.59pm on Saturday 26 July. Surrendering unwanted, unlicensed weapons avoids the risk of them becoming involved in criminality and means that members of the community can dispose of firearms in a safe place.

During that period, those surrendering firearms will not face prosecution for the illegal possession and they can remain anonymous.

During the amnesty there will also be a change in legislation which will make it illegal for certain people to hold weapons such as antique firearms.

Detective Chief Inspector Debbie Dooley of Xcalibre Task Force  said: “Gun crime in Manchester continues to fall year on year since the last amnesty we held in 2008.

“This is a result of continued efforts from the Force and our partners working together to safeguard, educate and intervene at the earliest opportunity.

“The last fatal gang shooting was 2011 Guiseppe Gregory, and the last fatal non-gang shootings were the tragic circumstances surrounding Nicola Hughes and Fiona Bone in 2012. These deaths, although not recent, are still far too many.

“We therefore want as many weapons as possible and would encourage people to hand them in.

“Together with our partners we continually work hard to educate young people about firearms and the dangers that come with them, to ensure that gun crime doesn’t become prevalent in the future.”

Weapons and ammunition can be surrendered at any police station but anyone handing in a firearm, ammunition or any other weapon during the amnesty is advised to check the opening times of their station by calling 101 or visiting the GMP website.

Greater Manchester’s Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd has spoken out in support of the amnesty:

“Greater Manchester has led the way in both reducing and sustaining the reduction in gun crime over several years. This is as a direct result of the police, public bodies such as local authorities, probation or youth offending services and – crucially – communities working together in a genuine partnership.

“But that doesn’t mean we can be complacent. This year’s amnesty shows that we won’t stop trying to address this issue. Anyone in possession of a firearm should take this opportunity to hand it in without facing prosecution – it is simply the smart thing to do.

“I’ve seen first-hand the destruction that guns have caused to families and communities in our area. Every weapon removed from the streets potentially represents a life saved, or indeed many lives saved. So take this opportunity to do the right thing and get rid of that deadly weapon. This amnesty will help us realise our goal of having streets that are safe and free from guns.”

Gary Murray from independent charity Crimestoppers said:

“Crimestoppers is proud to back GMP’s campaign to reduce the number of firearms in our community. We want the public to know that we take crime seriously and that, with their help, we can make Greater Manchester a safer place to live.”

If you know of people involved in illegal firearms call Greater Manchester Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is offering a reward up to £1000 for information that lead to the recovery of a firearm and an arrest and conviction.

More than 15 kilos of cannabis, worth a suspected £150,000, have been found in a disused bakery in Oldham.

Police in Oldham raided the former Croda Food Services unit on Falcon Street, Oldham, just after 5pm on 10 July 2014.

Once inside, officers found 15.5 kilos of cannabis bush concealed in vacuum packed bags within the lock-up.

Thirty one of the vacuum bags were recovered, each containing half a kilo of cannabis, with a total potential street value of £150,000.

The plants have now been recovered for forensic analysis and inquiries are continuing to establish who was behind the operation.

Superintendent Denise Worth said: “This is yet another massive find for police in Oldham but more importantly for the people who live in this area who time and time again have told us how fed up they are with drug dealing on their doorstep.

“This bakery looks as if it was being used as a storage and distribution centre for a huge amount of cannabis bush and so to have seized such a large amount of drugs means we have effectively stopped this cannabis from getting onto our streets where it can cause untold harm.

“Thanks to the work we are doing day-in day-out with our partner agencies, Greater Manchester Police is making huge inroads into organised criminality in Oldham, disrupting and dismantling the organised crime groups who cause so much hardship for innocent people.

“This is yet one more fantastic result for everyone because what it means, in real terms, is £150,000 that might otherwise have found its way into a criminal’s bank account and a huge stash of drugs that was intended for the streets has been taken out of circulation.

“We know that organised criminal groups involved in cannabis cultivation use residential and business properties to store the drugs, bringing criminality into law-abiding communities.

“That is why closing this drug dens is a victory for everyone. We will continue to relentlessly pursue anyone involved in organised crime and would like to thank the community for their help in providing information about suspected criminality which is vital to us in our fight against crime.”

Police suspect that a 17-year-old was posing as a 16-year-old girl on Facebook, asking young boys to send him indecent photos of themselves.

Enquiries are ongoing.

Detective Inspector Sarah-Jane Lennie, of South Manchester Division, said:

“I want to stress how extremely important it is that parents are mindful of who their children are speaking to on social media sites and perhaps speak to them of the associated dangers of speaking to and sharing material with strangers.

“There are people out there who will use social networking to befriend children with the intention of meeting up and exploit them for their own sexual gratification.

“Please remind your children that they should only accept friend requests from people they know, never from strangers, and stress the importance of being careful with every communication they have with people on social networking.”

Thinkuknow is CEOP’s education initiative aimed at empowering young people through information and education. Through an extensive range of dynamic resources, young people are equipped with the knowledge to identify the risks posed to them online and given proactive responses to reduce these risks. For more information visit www.thinkuknow.co.uk.

The CEOP Centre encourage young people and their parents to report any concerns they have about someone’s online behaviour to specialist officers using the ClickCEOP button, which can be found on a number of high-profile social networking sites. As well as providing this reporting facility, young people can also get vital information on a range of issues from cyberbullying to what to do if your online account has been hacked. To find out more, please visit www.ceop.police.uk/report-abuse.

Anyone who has been a victim of online child abuse can call police, the independent charity Crimestoppers (0800 555 111), the NSPCC (www.nspcc.org.uk/reportconcern) or the Child Exploitation & Online Protection Centre (www.ceop.police.uk).

At about 6.20pm on Thursday 10 July 2014, a warrant was executed at an address on Didcot Road, Wythenshawe.

During the search all computers, phones, and other media devices with access to internet were seized.

A 17-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of the inciting a child under 13 years to commit a sexual act. He remains in police custody for questioning.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a man was attacked and robbed in Stalybridge.

At about 5.45pm on Thursday 3 July 2014 a man was walking on Grosvenor Street when he was attacked by two men, one approaching from behind and one to the front. The punched him in the face, before stealing from him and running away in the direction of High Street and possibly onto Hough Hill.

One of the men is described as white, of slim build, 5ft 10in tall, and in his 20s.

The other man is described as white, of slim build about 6ft tall and was wearing a grey hooded top and blue shorts.

Detective Constable Jason Pickles of Tameside division said:

“This was an unprovoked and violent attack and the victim is understandably shaken.

“There may have been people on their way home from work that saw the attack and we’re urging anyone with information to contact police immediately, as we want to find the offenders as soon as possible.”

Anyone with information should call 0161 856 9350 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.