A convicted murderer who kidnapped a girl at knifepoint before sexually assaulting her has been jailed for life. Paul Sharpe held his 15-year-old victim hostage during an eight-hour ordeal, driving from one car park to another.
The 56-year-old put the girl in a headlock and bundled her into his car on Bradgate Road, in Altrincham, at around 7.30pm on May 18, claiming that her father owed him money. He drove to a car park at Manchester Airport and tied up her ankles and wrists with a neck tie.
Eight-hour ordeal
That night, he drove to different car parks in Greater Manchester and Cheshire, and plied the girl with alcohol while sexually assaulting her. At one point, former radio DJ Sharpe masturbated while touching the girl's feet, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.
He was finally caught by police in a hotel car park in Knutsford at around 3.40am on May 19. The girl had been reported as missing by her mother, while CCTV allowed officers to identify Sharpe's car, according to the CPS.
Court sentencing
Sharpe, from Stockport, admitted a string of offences at Minshull Street Crown Court in July, including kidnap and sexual assault. He returned to court on September 4, where he was jailed for life with an eight-year minimum term.
During his police interview, Sharpe said he 'had been feeling bad and so he kidnapped the girl thinking it would be easier than kidnapping an adult'. He claimed he wasn't thinking clearly, that his intention was to release her when it was light before taking his own life, and that his motives weren't sexual but he was 'aroused by smelling her feet', the CPS said.
Prosecutor's statement
Hannah Gee, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West, said: “Just over three months after kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl, convicted murderer Paul Sharpe begins his life prison sentence today. Sharpe subjected his victim to a terrifying ordeal, abducting her at knifepoint and holding her captive for eight hours, during which time he forced her to consume alcohol before sexually assaulting her.
“This was a harrowing experience for the victim and her family. I hope that with Sharpe now back behind bars, they can begin to move forward, knowing that their courage and support throughout the prosecution have helped ensure that this dangerous offender has been removed from our streets.”
Sharpe, of Yates Street, Portwood, was jailed for kidnapping, committing an offence with intent to commit a sexual offence, sexual assault, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, threatening another with a bladed article and administering a noxious thing with intent to injure, aggrieve or annoy.
He was previously convicted of murdering a Bolton woman in 2000 who he had struck up a relationship with, after she had listened to him present a show on Tower FM, under the alias Paul Shaw. He was jailed for life after fatally strangling the 28-year-old beauty therapy student, after she had threatened to break up with him.
