Grooming gang ringleader jailed for 15 years

The ringleader of a grooming gang who admitted a string of sexual offences against under-age girls has been jailed for 15 years.

Ashley Darbyshire, 28, of Westhoughton in Bolton, had pleaded guilty to 19 charges, including rape, involving five girls between 2016 and 2018.

Liverpool Crown Court heard he met one of the victims when she was 13 and he was 19, and that he was aware of her age.

Ten other members of the gang were set to be sentenced on Monday and Tuesday.

The court heard Darbyshire "fostered an infatuation" in the girl.

He allowed others to engage in sexual activity with her, which prosecutor Ben Lawrence showed a "casual disregard" for her.

Judge Simon Medland said the girl gave her evidence in the trial with courage and fortitude, in contrast to the " dishonest and fanciful" evidence given by the defendants.

He said Darbyshire's treatment of the girl was coldly sexual "without any hint of warmth or affection."

In an earlier trial, eight other men were convicted of abusing one of the girls, who was aged between 13 and 15 at the time of the offences.

Many of the offences happened at or near a house in Blackrod near Wigan. Another man, Ross Corley, had already pleaded guilty to two offences of sexual activity with a child.

The earlier trial heard the girl considered herself to be in a relationship with some of the men but they did not care whether she consented [to sex] or not.

The prosecution said the defendants were part of a "malign friendship group" which preyed on the girl.

Darbyshire pleaded guilty in March to 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 taking indecent photographs.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, the girl said: "I'd rather be dead most days than deal with all this mental torture and memories.

"Because of these men, I will never be able to live a normal life again."

Referring to Darbyshire, she said: "Ashley destroyed me in every way he possibly could. He took everything I had from me and when I was a child all I had was myself and my body.

"I thought I loved him at first but it very quickly turned to fear. He knew exactly how to work me and what to say to make me do anything he wanted.

"He had a hold over me and to this day I question why."

Darbyshire was put on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

He said "thank you, your honour" as he was sent down.

Three other members of the gang were also sentenced.

Brandon Harwood, 25, of Bolton, received 10 years after being found guilty of one count of rape, one count of attempted oral rape, and one count of sexual activity with a child under 16.

Harvie Aspden, 25, of Bolton, was found guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a child under 16 and jailed for 15 months, suspended for two years.

Ross Corley, 30, was convicted of two counts of sexual activity with a child and sentenced to 28 months in prison and given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

He was put on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

Senior investigating officer Det Insp Samantha Parry said: "I am glad that this group of abhorrent individuals have been handed substantial sentences and are off the streets of Bolton and where they belong, behind bars."

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