After an investigation by the City of Manchester South Division, Matthew Wharton, a 37-year-old male, was sentenced to four and a half years for sexual crimes on Thursday, December 12, 2024.
Matthew Wharton (02/05/1987), a mental health nurse at Laureate House in Manchester, was convicted of sexually assaulting a 20-year-old female inpatient under his care.
Matthew Wharton was convicted of five counts of a care worker participating in penetrative sexual conduct with a mentally disturbed female and two charges of a care worker engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a mentally disordered female.
In May 2024, the victim informed a staff member that she had been subjected to repeated rape by Matthew Wharton. The GMP was notified and initiated an investigation.
Matthew Wharton had been employed on the ward since August 2023 and, in March 2024, he attempted to reach out to the victim via Instagram, but she did not react to his request. A few days later, he tracked the victim using his SnapChat account.
Matthew Wharton manipulated the woman into a relationship in which he exploited her and commenced sexually assaulting and raping her. The offences occurred both on the ward and at numerous sites to which he transported her outside the unit.
Subsequent to the police report, Matthew Wharton was apprehended in May 2024 and subsequently charged with charges pertaining to section 38 of the Sexual charges Act. A 10-year restraining order was also imposed on him.
District of Columbia Chloe Stevens stated: “I commend the victim for her courage in reporting these offences to the police and placing her trust in our investigation.” The anguish Matthew Wharton has imposed on a young and vulnerable woman is entirely reprehensible, and I am gratified that the sentence confines him securely to prison.
“He was in a position of care and abused that power for his own sexual gratification. We will continue to do all in our power to bring offenders like him to justice and protect the vulnerable.
“If you have been a victim of sexual offences, I urge you to speak out and tell the police what you know. You will be listened to and we will do our utmost to bring you justice.”
If you or someone you know has been a victim of rape or sexual assault, we encourage you not to suffer in silence and report it to the police by calling 101 or 999 in an emergency.
You can also report information and crimes on our website (www.gmp.police.uk) using the ‘report’ tool. Alternatively, you can report information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
There are also lots of organisations and support agencies available across Greater Manchester that can help and provide support for you. For more information on rape and serious sexual assault and the support services available to you, please visit our support pages.
Support for Rape and Sexual Assault:
St. Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre – Manchester provides a comprehensive and co-ordinated response to men, women and children who live or have been sexually assaulted within Greater Manchester. They offer forensic medical examinations, practical and emotional support as well as a counselling service for all ages. Services are available on a 24-hour basis and can be accessed by calling 0161 276 6515.
Greater Manchester Rape Crisis – is a confidential information, support and counselling service run by women for women over 18 who have been raped or sexually abused at any time in their lives. Call on 0161 273 4500 or email help@manchesterrapecrisis.co.uk
Survivors Manchester – provides specialist trauma informed support to male victims in Greater Manchester who have experienced sexual abuse, rape, or sexual exploitation. Call 0161 236 2182.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.