Their faces obscured by masks, they sit in police interview rooms, quizzed by detectives on crimes they thought they'd got away with. The trail of destruction left by David Marsh and Anthony Whitehead would soon be laid bare in court. This week, the two men were jailed having groomed 'troubled and vulnerable' young boys with cash, cigarettes and alcohol before committing vile sexual abuse over two decades. Marsh, 74, and Whitehead, 72, were locked up - for 27 years and seven years respectively - following a four-week trial at Minshull Street Crown Court. They exploited a string of victims in Rochdale in the 1980s and 1990s. READ MORE: Heinous actions tore their lives apart, but one-by-one their words saw justice finally served The offences came to light in 2019 after Greater Manchester Police received a report that one of the victims confided in a person in authority that he had been sexually abused by two men as a boy. Investigators found one of the men was dead, but that the second, Marsh, was alive. Their investigations led them to a sinister campaign of abuse by Marsh and Whitehead, who were not known to each other, but both bribed the boys. Marsh, from Northenden, was convicted of 27 offences including indecent assault; buggery (rape); and attempted buggery (attempted rape). Whitehead, from Atherton, was convicted of six counts of indecent assault. A detective who worked from the case from the very beginning has now spoken to the Manchester Evening News about the investigation. Anthony Whitehead, left, and David Marsh (Image: GMP) Detective Constable Andrea Richards was first told by one of the victims, who was in prison, he had been sexually abused. From there, a sickening grooming spree was uncovered. The passage of time made it difficult for investigators, with a lack of forensic evidence and the benefit of modern techniques and technology. But Det Con Richards said they were still able to track down Marsh and Whitehead and secure convictions thanks to 'old fashioned detective work'. "I would just say that it was a lot of old fashioned detective work, the fact that the victims corroborated each other," she said. "We were able to find information in third party material. I would say mainly from the social services records of the children. "The victims were able to tell us things about the defendants personal circumstances, where they lived, what they did for a living... very good descriptions. The defendants were living normal lives." Det Con Richards added: "People from all walks of life can be arrested for being paedophiles. There's no single type of paedophile. Time is no barrier. It does make it more complex, but it doesn't mean it can't be done." David Marsh during his police interview (Image: Greater Manchester Police) One of the victims gave Det Con Richards a list of boys that he used to hang around with at the time of the abuse. That led her to other victims targeted by Marsh and Whitehead, who acted separately. "It was a bit of a shock to the system for them because this case occurred in the late 80s early 90s," Det Con Richards added. "They have tried to bury this and any thoughts that they got about what happened to them when they were younger. To have someone like me knock on the door 40 years later isn't easy. "Some needed a bit of time to think about it, but in the end they all did speak to me. I realised this was going to be a bit bigger than I would be able to handle on my own. A small team was put together to investigate what was going on. We do believe there are more victims out there." Marsh, on arrest, was desperate and pleaded innocence. "He gave the defence that he had erectile dysfunction problems and therefore couldn't have possibly committed the offences," Det Con Richards said. "His medical records did show that he had erectile dysfunction, but not around the time of the offences." David Marsh filmed himself with young boys in Thailand (Image: GMP) Det Con Richards said many of the boys had difficult upbringings, which Whitehead and Marsh exploited, adding: "The boys, when they were growing up, came from dysfunctional families. Unfortunately, they ended up in the care system. "They lived in situations which caused them to turn away and they were living on the streets of Rochdale . They [suffered] years of horrific sexual abuse. "Unfortunately they have turned to drugs and used alcohol and committed crime. They have been through the criminal justice system. I think we approached [the investigation] in a reassuring way, in a kind way, in a compassionate way. I think they now see that we were genuine, so they were able to open up to us. "They did find it very very difficult indeed, but they were able to get across what we needed to be able to secure those convictions. Some are doing better than others. All of them needed what they would think specialist support." Det Con Richards added: "I've always been patient about the case, I've always cared a lot for the victims and really wanted to see the right result for them. I was just hugely satisfied that I was able to bring some justice for the victims, although I do know that their journey to healing continues."
Shankland warns Hearts team-mates to face the truth over the club's survival battle... and insists the league table does not lie Tynecastle club are second bottom of the Scottish Premiership after derby defeat to city rivals Hibs Skipper Shankland says struggling Edinburgh men can't afford to shy away from the scale of the club's predicament Neil Critchley's side next face must-win match at fellow strugglers Ross County as they bid to improve fortunes By STEPHEN HALLIDAY Published: 23:04 GMT, 27 December 2024 | Updated: 23:04 GMT, 27 December 2024 e-mail View comments Hearts skipper Lawrence Shankland has urged his team-mates to confront the reality of the Tynecastle side’s perilous situation before it’s too late. Thursday’s 2-1 defeat to city rivals Hibernian left them in 11th place in the Premiership table, just two points clear of bottom club St Johnstone. Eager to avoid a relegation battle in the second half of the season, Shankland (pictured) knows the heat is firmly on Neil Critchley’s side as they prepare to face Ross County in Dingwall on Sunday. ‘You need to be realistic,’ said the Scotland striker. ‘We’re in a position where the league table would tell you that we’re not exactly a brilliant team. ‘I think the season would tell you that. Right now, we’re not performing like a good team. So we are where we are in the table because we deserve to be there and that’s the truth. 'I think if anyone shies away from that, they’re telling themselves a lie. We are where we are and now we’re going to a huge game at Ross County this weekend that we need to go and win. Club captain Shankland says anyone shying away from the reality is 'telling themselves a lie' Shankland tries to urge his men on during their Edinburgh derby defeat to Hibernian The Leith side's triumph at Tynecastle has pushed their city rivals into a state of near crisis ‘We need to have the belief that we can turn it around but we also need to find the quality to go and do it. ‘You see the boys in training. They can do it. It’s just bringing it to the match. That’s the hard bit and that’s where we’re struggling at the moment. ‘The feeling among everybody is the same. There’s a frustration that we’re not doing what we need to do in the final third to put teams under pressure. ‘Goalies aren’t having to make saves against us week in, week out. We’re not putting enough pressure on the opposition goal for how much ball we have. ‘We’re not doing that, we’re not producing that. That comes down to the individuals and levels of quality that we’re putting together. So it’s just overriding frustration.’ That frustration has led to anger among Hearts supporters, most vocally expressed after the recent Europa Conference League exit at home to Moldovan side Petrocub. Shankland was critical of the atmosphere created by supporters that night but had no complaints over their reaction as Hibs won at Tynecastle for the first time in five years on Boxing Day. Hearts' failure to defeat Moldovan minnows Petrocub in the Conference League was a real low Manager Neil Critchley (second from right) is coming under increasing pressure from fans ‘There’s obviously frustration there and I understand that,’ he added. ‘At the end of the game, they showed that frustration. ‘That’s fully acceptable on my part. It’s a fan base that expects us to win games, especially derbies. It’s hugely disappointing. I fully understand the frustration and anger. You need to take that on the chin. ‘That’s what’s expected when you play here and you play in the games. You’re expected to win and we’ve not done it. ‘Tynecastle can be quite a hard place for some players to play at times when things aren’t going well but I thought the crowd were good against Hibs. ‘I thought they were behind us. It wasn’t the case of the crowd getting on top of us. I didn’t feel that at all. ‘Derbies usually bring that buzz and it only takes a small moment to change a crowd and get a lift, but I didn’t feel like the crowd was bad at all.’ Manager Critchley hopes to refresh his squad in the window and Shankland accepts changes in personnel are needed. ‘It can help, aye,’ he said. ‘Obviously, you need quality. You need to recruit quality players that can bring a level that’s expected to perform at the football club. That’s what we need going forward.’ Europa Conference League Share or comment on this article: Shankland warns Hearts team-mates to face the truth over the club's survival battle... and insists the league table does not lie e-mail Add commentLate Caoimhín Kelleher error costs Liverpool victory in six-goal thriller at Newcastle
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