Gang ringleader pleads guilty to string of sexual offences against girls
By Sally Smith
In yet more criminal prosecutions of men within the Greater Manchester area, the ringleader of a gang of men who groomed teenagers in the Bolton area pleaded guilty on 31st March 2025 to a string of sexual offences against teenage girls.
Others involved in the gang were convicted in February following a 3-month trial. All eight men will be sentenced together at a future hearing but the judge told Ashely Darbyshire that a “substantial, immediate custodial sentence is inevitable”. The court was told that the offences related to 4 separate teenage girls and included rape, sexual activity with a child, inciting girls to engage in sexual activity and also making indecent images of a child.
One of the offences he admitted to involved a child being tied up in a bedroom and raped by Darbyshire and another of the other defendants. The offences all took place in Blackrod, Bolton and at or near a property in Wigan, Greater Manchester, which became known as the "party house".
The eight men who were convicted at the separate trial in February were: Daniel Flatters, Jack Poulson, James Fitzgerald, Cory Barrett, Richard Haslam, Brandon Harwood, Harvie Aspden, and Elliott Turner.
The case follows similar investigations and prosecutions in the Rochdale and Oldham areas, also covered by Greater Manchester Police.
The effects of this kind of sustained and depraved abuse have significant and long-lasting effects on children who will often face distress and struggles as adults as a result of the trauma they have endured. It is common for survivors to be diagnosed with and other serious health issues. It is also not unusual for it to take time for victims to acknowledge that the treatment the were subject to was in fact sexual abuse. Many were led to believe that they were in relationships with the men who exploited them.
Switalskis has been successful in securing substantial financial settlements for survivors of this sort of child sexual exploitation (CSE).
If you, or someone you know, has been affected by this kind of abuse and you wish to have a confidential chat about the options available, then please contact Sally Smith on 01924 882000 or email sally.smith@switalskis.com
Find out how Switalskis can help you
At Switalskis, our specialist abuse lawyers have decades of experience in representing survivors of child sexual exploitation. We understand that such cases are very emotional for clients and often legally complex, therefore we are dedicated to providing a supportive and professional environment in which our clients can feel confident in our services. We are committed to ensuring our clients receive the compensation they deserve.
If you have been impacted and would like to discuss your experience in confidence, our specialist abuse team can help. Call 0800 1380 458 or email help@switalskis.com.
Sally has 23 years experience in the legal sector. She qualified as a solicitor in 2002.
