An Openshaw Paedophile, Michael Hopwood, has been sentenced to a minimum of 14 years in prison following a jury’s conviction for the rape and sexual assault of two young girls. Michael Hopwood, 27, from, perpetrated sexual assault on girls under the age of 12.
The married parent refuted three allegations of rape, two allegations of attempted rape, four accusations of sexual assault, and one charge of engaging in sexual behaviour in the presence of a kid. However, a jury found Michael Hopwood guilty, resulting in a lengthy prison sentence accompanied by an extended licence period.
Peter Cadwallader, prosecuting, before Manchester Crown Court that one of the victims attended school ‘distressed’ towards the end of the previous year and ‘signalled’ to peers that she had been raped.
The girl, too immature to comprehend the concept of rape, informed an adult about the incident, prompting the involvement of law enforcement, as said in court. She recounted to the officers how Michael Hopwood mounted her and detailed an episode that the jury determined constituted oral rape.
Police later interviewed the second girl. The girl told police graphic details of how Michael Hopwood would molest her.
The girl said the abuse had started during the summer. She told officers she had not spoken to anybody about her ordeal and was scared to do so, said Mr Cadwallader.
When police arrested Michael Hopwood, he denied all allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct, said the prosecutor. The court heard those caring for the two girls were glad he was facing a long jail term as Michael Hopwood could no longer harm them.
Both girls, entitled to lifelong anonymity in press reports of their case as victims of sex crimes, have been ‘profoundly’ affected by the abuse, the court heard.
One had been bubbly and confident but ‘isn’t like that now’, the court heard. The other was a sweet girl whose attitude ‘has changed’ and has become very emotional every time she did anything wrong.
One tearful family member described Michael Hopwood as a ‘monster’. She told the judge: “If it was up to me, I would lock him up and throw away the key. I believe people like him should be locked away forever.”
The court heard Michael Hopwood had not been caught before and had no previous conviction.
Joanne Shepherd, defending, pointed to her client’s previous good character and said Hopwood had been suffering with depression ‘for a considerable period of time’.
Judge Hilary Manley said the younger victim had ‘found the courage’ to tell her school friends. She had been groomed by Michael Hopwood who then raped her, said Judge Manley.
The judge went on to say that the older girl had been ‘groomed and debased’ by Michael Hopwood who then ‘bribed her with sweets’. “You destroyed her innocence,” said Judge Manley, who went on to say that the impact on both girls had been ‘profound’.
Michael Hopwood was handed a 20-year prison sentence. He will be eligible for parole after 14 years. He was also handed an extended licence period of eight years, which means, even if he is released after 14 years, he will be on licence for a further 14 years.
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