The Wythenshawe Paedophile, Mark Sheridan, has received an eight-year prison sentence after being convicted of sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 13.
Mark Sheridan (26/11/1967), a resident of Wythenshawe, Manchester, was convicted following an inquiry conducted by our Child Protection Unit in South Manchester.
He was apprehended in November 2024 following the girl’s report of sexual abuse.
Mark Sheridan was detained following a conviction for sexual assault by penetration at Bolton Crown Court on 2 May 2025.
Today, in the same court (6/6/25), he was also issued a 15-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order as part of his sentence.
Detective Constable Victoria Banks stated: “This investigation has been intricate and distressing.”
“Mark Sheridan put the victim through two ordeals, firstly by committing this heinous offence and then making her give evidence.
“The girl and her family have shown enormous bravery and must now pick up the pieces – and we will continue to support them.
“We are absolutely committed to removing offenders like Mark Sheridan from the streets, as the danger he poses to society, particularly children, is significant.
“Hopefully today’s sentence and our investigation will give victims the confidence to report these types of crimes and trust us to investigate them.”
Across Greater Manchester, we arrested 3,000 suspected sex offenders in 2024 and we safeguarded thousands of vulnerable people.
Our specialist officers and dedicated teams continue to work tirelessly across Greater Manchester to keep children and young people safe and bring offenders to justice.
The victim’s mother released a statement after the sentence, saying her daughter’s life ‘is already broken’.
She added: “I have a voice and will advocate for my daughter, to make sure when she is old enough to understand what happened, that she knows I did everything I possibly could, to make sure justice was served and this person was not free to sexually abuse any more children.
“The damage to my daughter has already been done and can’t be changed, her life is already broken.
“Even though Mark Sheridan had been remanded since he was charged, justice has not been served as my daughter’s life has been ruined forever.”
Support available
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.
- Saint 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
- We Are Survivors 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.