'Depraved' paedophile finally jailed after raping six-year-old boy in the 1980s

A "depraved" paedophile who repeatedly raped a six-year-old boy in the 1980s has finally been jailed.

Gary Mottershead, 50, first indecently assaulted the six-year-old in 1981, with numerous other "absolutely disgraceful" incidents taking place over the course of two years. The sex offender was 14 when the rape took place.

It was not until August 2015 that the victim felt able to come forward and Mottershead, from Sale, was finally brought to justice and jailed for six years on Friday (17 November). He was sentenced at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court for rape of a child and five counts of indecency with a child.

Detective Constable Paul Walls, of Greater Manchester Police's Trafford Borough, said: "Mottershead's behaviour was a complete abuse of trust and shows his depravity as a sex offender.

"The way he acted with a six-year-old boy is absolutely disgraceful and I am so grateful to the victim that he bravely reported Mottershead's actions so that we could bring him to justice."

DC Walls added that the case showed police would always take reports of sexual offences seriously, no matter how long ago they took place.

"Mottershead will now be spending the next six years in prison, giving him nothing but time to reflect on his unacceptable behaviour and keep him safely behind bars," he said.