Manchester paedophile Martin Thorley jailed for 17 years

Image source, GMP

Image caption, Martin Thorley was jailed at Manchester Crown Court for five counts of child sex abuse

A "despicable" paedophile who started to sexually abuse his victim when she was four years old has been jailed.

Martin Thorley, 45, of Broomville Avenue in Sale, Greater Manchester, was convicted of five counts of historical child sex abuse.

He was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court to 17 years in prison.

Police said the series of assaults, which would go on for about seven years, started when he was a teenager.

Thorley would take the girl away from any adults before assaulting her, police added.

Det Con Dawn Berry said: "This kind of abuse has a devastating effect on the victims, casting shade over their childhood and creating mental trauma which stays with them throughout their lifetime.

"Thorley is a paedophile who exploited a young girl for his own sexual gratification.

"His behaviour is despicable and I can only hope this sentence brings some sense of retribution to his victim who had to suffer the consequences of his deplorable actions."

Correction - 7 December 2021: An earlier version of this article wrongly stated Thorley pleaded guilty to five counts of historical child sex abuse. In fact he denied 11 counts but was convicted of five. We have amended our story accordingly.