Chris Slater

Mohammed Al Masri, 25, was sentenced to eight years in prison after being convicted by a majority jury verdict of raping an intoxicated young mother in Manchester in December 2025. He and another man allegedly deceived her into believing she was being taken home in an Uber, transported her to an HMO in Abbey Hey, and carried her inside. The victim shared her live location with her boyfriend, who called emergency services; police arrived shortly afterward. Al Masri claimed the sex was consensual, but the judge found the victim was unable to make a free and informed decision and described elements of abduction. He was also classified as a dangerous offender, placed under lifetime notification requirements, given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and a restraining order.

Pamela Gwinnett, 63, was sentenced at Preston Crown Court to six years and two months in prison after stealing £296,173.68 from 89-year-old Joan Green while posing as her friend and carer during the Covid-19 pandemic. Gwinnett obtained control of Green's finances, isolated her from relatives, and spent the money on personal expenses including Botox, a car, meals and property mortgages. She fled to Tenerife while awaiting trial, was convicted in her absence, and was later arrested and extradited through cooperation between Greater Manchester Police, the National Crime Agency and Spanish authorities. She was also ordered to repay the stolen money.

Police launched a murder investigation after the body of a woman in her 30s was found inside stables at Higher Tunshill Farm in Milnrow, Rochdale, following a fire on 3 July. A man in his 40s was arrested on suspicion of murder and later released on bail. The farm remains sealed off while forensic investigators continue examining the scene.

A man in his 30s was found with serious injuries consistent with a fall from height at Adelphi Court in Salford shortly after 1 a.m. on June 17. He remains in critical condition in hospital. Greater Manchester Police arrested two men, aged 33 and 43, on suspicion of assault causing grievous bodily harm; the men were also arrested on suspicion of possessing Class A drugs and an offensive weapon, respectively. Police continue to investigate the circumstances of the incident.

Mohamed Nassar, a 58-year-old Tesco security guard and father of three, suffered cardiac arrest after choking on a doughnut during a break at a Salford store on May 8. His heart reportedly stopped for 23 minutes, leaving him critically ill on life support at Manchester Royal Infirmary with severe brain damage. Doctors have warned his family that his survival is unlikely. His family, who describe him as kind and devoted, are maintaining a bedside vigil and have launched a GoFundMe campaign because he was their sole provider.

Brian Coote was sentenced to three years and 11 months in prison after pleading guilty to seriously assaulting his father Alan, killing Alan’s dog Max with a samurai sword on Christmas Day in Westhoughton, and attacking two police officers. Bolton Crown Court also imposed a 10-year restraining order barring him from contacting his father or visiting his home. Greater Manchester Police condemned the violence and highlighted the case’s domestic-abuse and animal-cruelty dimensions.

A baby died at a private home on Platt Lane in Fallowfield, Manchester, after police, ambulances and an air ambulance attended on the morning of May 7. Neighbours reported seeing a paramedic carrying an infant, while detectives and forensic officers later began inquiries. The North West Ambulance Service confirmed attending the address but provided no further details, and it remains unclear whether the death is being treated as suspicious.

A man in his 50s was arrested on suspicion of assault after two linked knife attacks on Tonge Moor Road in Bolton. CCTV reportedly showed him entering The Deli and lunging at a customer, who appeared to disarm him. Two men suffered stab wounds described as superficial or not life-threatening. Greater Manchester Police said the incidents may be mental-health-related, while The Deli temporarily closed and assisted the investigation.

Two staff members at Super Wash on Stockport Road in Longsight, Manchester, were taken to hospital as a precaution after reportedly eating sweets given to them by a customer. Police, paramedics and fire crews attended the scene, which was initially treated as a suspected poisoning and cordoned off while emergency workers in hazmat suits investigated. The sweets were believed to contain THC, but no evidence of poisoning was found, no crime was recorded and both staff members were later discharged.

A 16-year-old boy on trial at Minshull Street Crown Court denies raping a 13-year-old girl alongside a 15-year-old co-defendant in bushes near Newbold tram stop in Rochdale in February 2024. He told the jury the sexual activity was consensual, said the girl voluntarily entered the bushes, and described feeling happy after what he believed was his first sexual encounter. Prosecutors allege the boys took turns and exchanged positions during the incident, part of which was recorded and shared. A 14-year-old alleged participant has been ruled unfit to stand trial, and the trial continues with all defendants denying the allegations.

Greater Manchester Police are investigating an armed robbery at a Subway in Ellesmere Retail Park, Walkden, Salford. A masked man dressed in black allegedly displayed a suspected gun, threatened staff and fled with a small amount of cash after arriving in a black car. Police described the incident as extremely rare and concerning, increased patrols in the area and appealed for witnesses, CCTV, dashcam or mobile-phone footage.

Gary “Mani” Mounfield, the Stone Roses bassist, died peacefully in his sleep on November 20, 2025, aged 63, after a long-standing battle with emphysema and related respiratory problems. Paramedics attended his family home in Stockport but were unable to revive him. His funeral will be held at Manchester Cathedral on December 22, followed by a private committal. Tributes came from former bandmate Ian Brown, Liam Gallagher, Tim Burgess and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham. Mani had been preparing for a 60-date UK tour and had recently supported the Ricky Hatton Foundation following the boxer's death. He is survived by his twin sons, Gene and George.

A large elm tree from the grounds of Milton St John’s Primary School in Mossley fell onto a row of terraced houses during Storm Claudia, forcing three occupants to evacuate. The impact punctured the roof and left a gable wall leaning, but nobody was injured. The road was closed and cordoned off while tree specialists assessed the damage. The storm also caused widespread fallen trees, flooding, property damage and major disruption to roads, railways and tram services across the Greater Manchester area.

Sixteen-year-old Harley Andrews from Leigh died hours after being diagnosed with stage-four leukaemia at Royal Bolton Hospital. He had reportedly been told weeks earlier that his symptoms were likely a viral infection or growing pains. Tests found that the cancer had caused internal bleeding in his brain and other organs. Family friends and local football and rugby clubs launched fundraisers to help his family with funeral costs and other expenses, drawing thousands of pounds in donations.

Samantha Wall was sentenced to two years and four months in prison after pleading guilty to stalking Brad Burton and Naomi Timperley and misusing an electronic communications network. Her campaign began after a brief 2019 meeting and selfie with Burton, then escalated into years of online harassment and false accusations. The victims said the abuse damaged their mental health, reputations, businesses and family lives, with Burton saying he was forced to place his main business into insolvency. The judge acknowledged Wall’s chronic delusional disorder but said it did not excuse her actions, while Greater Manchester Police said the sentence should give the victims closure.

Twelve-year-old Oliver Gorman died after inhaling butane from aerosol deodorants in what an inquest linked to the dangerous “Chroming” trend associated with TikTok. Assistant Coroner Andrew Bridgman recorded a conclusion of misadventure and said there was no evidence Oliver intended to end his life. He raised major concerns about TikTok’s exposure of children to life-threatening challenges, called existing aerosol warnings inadequate, and plans to recommend clearer labels and possible age restrictions on purchases. Oliver’s mother, Clare Gillespie, also urged parents not to buy aerosol products for children and launched an awareness campaign focused on bullying, cyberbullying and social-media trends.

A family from Shrewsbury says they and dozens of other TUI passengers were left at Larnaca Airport for nearly 24 hours after technical problems and crew-rest requirements disrupted their flight to Manchester. Rio, her husband and their 11-year-old twin daughters reportedly slept on the airport floor while passengers waited for information, received limited food vouchers and faced uncertainty over hotel accommodation and departure arrangements. TUI reportedly arranged some hotel rooms, while other travellers found their own accommodation or remained at the airport. The delayed flight was scheduled to depart at 1:15am on August 24, and TUI was approached for comment.

Manchester United's Old Trafford megastore is preventing fans from printing Eric Cantona, David Beckham or Cristiano Ronaldo on new shirts because the club does not own the players' name trademarks and lacks the necessary licences. The restriction has reportedly existed for several years and also applies to Ronaldo merchandise at Real Madrid. Fans have reacted with surprise, while new signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo remain available for shirt personalization.

Cheshire Police are searching for 38-year-old Rachel Booth, who was last seen in Northwich and later captured on CCTV at Sandiway Garage. Officers are conducting enquiries in Oakmere and the surrounding area, prompting Wild Shore Delamere to close temporarily to support the investigation. Police have appealed for sightings and information, citing increasing concern for Booth’s welfare.

A Manchester family says a £12,000 two-week holiday at Jamaica's Royalton Negril resort booked through TUI was marred by dirty rooms, broken furniture, an unclean buffet and repeated fire alarms. Lucy Hylton said the family ate outside the all-inclusive resort seven times and that her parents wanted to leave by the third day. TUI arranged cleaning, offered an alternative room, beach cabanas and a discount voucher, but the family says the company refused to refund the hotel cost. TUI was approached for comment.

NHS nurse Dean Armitage fraudulently claimed more than £76,000, including holiday pay, for 185 shifts he did not work at a secure mental health facility in Manchester. As a ward manager, he used the staff booking system to backdate and authorise overtime claims during the Covid-19 pandemic. Investigators identified the fraud through biometric access records, leading to his guilty plea and imprisonment for 18 months. He was dismissed for gross misconduct and suspended by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Conner Dickinson, 24, died in Bolton in November 2023 after falling from his motorbike into the path of a tipper truck. His mother, Siobhan, learned details of his death after graphic dashcam footage was circulated on WhatsApp, Snapchat and Facebook before officers had informed her. An inquest heard that the sharing caused extreme distress, while the coroner described it as cruel and ghoulish attention-seeking. Greater Manchester Police recorded a Malicious Communications Act offence and dealt with an arrested man through a Community Resolution. The truck driver was not prosecuted; the coroner concluded that the collision was inadvertent and resulted from a combination of events.

Louise Bennet, a 33-year-old mother of four, says her family has spent four years in an overcrowded two-bedroom flat at Ratcliffe Towers in Stockport, where she alleges drug use, drunkenness, violence, noise and other anti-social behaviour are common. She says the conditions have made her children feel unsafe and that repeated requests to move have failed; she has been told to rely on the social-housing bidding process, which could take seven to eight years. Stockport Homes says it takes residents’ safety seriously, has used measures including closure orders and an injunction to tackle anti-social behaviour, and cannot offer an immediate move because of intense demand for housing.

Seven US nationals were recruited to collect 12 suitcases containing more than 300kg of cocaine at Manchester Airport in exchange for payments of $4,000 to $5,000 each. The operation collapsed after airport staff detected cocaine during an X-ray check, leading to arrests at the airport and a nearby Hilton hotel. Six defendants received sentences ranging from seven years and six months to 13 years, while Chloe Sandoval is due to be sentenced on February 14. The judge said the scheme was sophisticated but that some participants had been exploited by higher-ranking criminals who promised easy money.

Greater Manchester Police are investigating a confrontation at The Derby High School in Bury after videos circulated online showing a mother shouting at and apparently approaching a boy, who appeared to fall to the ground. A School Liaison Officer is working with the school to ensure safeguarding measures are in place. Police said enquiries are ongoing and that no arrests have been made.

Jack Derbyshire, a 27-year-old father from Tameside, died after collapsing beside his car following a six-a-side football match. Earlier in 2024, an Apple Watch alert had prompted medical checks that diagnosed atrial fibrillation and dilated cardiomyopathy, and he was being assessed for an internal defibrillator. Despite medical advice to stop when tired, he continued playing a limited role in football. His mother Lianne described his love of family, music and Manchester City, while a GoFundMe campaign was launched to support his fiancée Charlotte and their three-year-old daughter Lyla. Manchester City supporters also planned a tribute at the club's match.