'Despicable' paedophile locked up for 15 years for string of horrific sexual abuse against two children

A Rochdale paedophile has been jailed for a string of horrific sexual abuse against a girl and a boy dating back more than 30 years. Christopher McGourlay was charged with a number of offences which took place in the early 1990s.

Bolton Crown Court heard how McGourlay's abhorrent crimes had a huge impact on those he preyed on. McGourlay was found guilty of 10 counts of indecent assault on a female under the age of 14, attempted rape of a girl under the age of 16 and the indecent assault of a male under the age of 14 years, all in completely unrelated circumstances.

Jurors convicted the 63-year-old at trial on July 19. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison at Bolton Crown Court yesterday (September 1).

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DC Elisabeth Stacey, of the child sexual exploitation team based at Rochdale police station, said: "McGourlay has now begun a 15-year jail sentence for these despicable crimes against these victims and survivors, when they were both young children who had no idea what was happening to them. I want to thank the victims and survivors for the strength and dignity they have shown throughout this case, and the bravery they have had to bring this prosecution to a conclusion.

"Although nothing will ever give them their childhoods' back, I hope that this lengthy sentence gives them the time and space to come to terms with what they have been through and begin to heal. As a force, Greater Manchester Police are committed to investigating, locating and charging child sexual offenders, seeing prosecutions through the courts to sentencing, just like today's.

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