Man Jailed for Child Assault, Family Expresses Relief
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Man Jailed for Child Assault, Family Expresses Relief
- Vince Wharton, 59, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison after being found guilty of four counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching.
- The sentencing occurred on August 26, 2024, at Manchester Crown Court, following a trial that took over five years to reach court.
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Vince Wharton, a 59-year-old man from Failsworth, Greater Manchester, has been jailed for four-and-a-half years for sexually assaulting a young girl. He was found guilty of four offenses of assaulting a girl under the age of 13 by touching. The incidents, which involved touching both over and under clothing, took place when the victim was of primary school age, more than five years ago.
The sentencing took place at Manchester Crown Court on August 26, 2024. Judge Elizabeth Nicholls highlighted “failings” in the case, noting that the victim and her family endured a “tragically long time for trial,” which caused significant distress. The court heard that some evidence, including messages between the victim and her mother, was not initially recorded by police and was only presented during the trial after the mother mentioned it. Judge Nicholls stated that the police had, at one point, denied the existence of these messages.
The victim’s family expressed a sense of justice but also frustration with the handling of the case. They indicated they would be filing a complaint with the Crown Prosecution Service and Greater Manchester Police. In response, Superintendent Roger Pegram from Greater Manchester Police acknowledged the judge’s comments and stated that the force would provide appropriate training and feedback to officers to prevent similar issues in the future.
In addition to the prison sentence, Wharton was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life, made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life, and given a restraining order prohibiting him from contacting the victim for seven years.