Thomas Maher, a 64-year-old man from Burnage, Manchester, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for orchestrating the sexual abuse of a young girl with a man he believed to be her father. The North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU) described his online activity as 'deeply disturbing' and indicative of a clear intent to commit further offences against the child.
Online Plot Uncovered
In September 2025, Maher sent messages via a social media platform to someone he assumed was an adult male. During the conversation, he discussed plans to carry out serious sexual offences against the man's daughter and detailed measures he intended to take to facilitate the abuse. Police were alerted to the activity and discovered that Maher was already on bail for separate offences related to indecent images of children.
Officers arrested Maher at his home and searched his vehicle, where they found two syringes and his mobile phone containing further evidence of his offending.
Court Proceedings
At Manchester Crown Court on July 17, 2026, Maher pleaded guilty to arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence, possession of an indecent image of a child, making indecent photographs of a child, and possession of extreme pornography. He was sentenced to eight years in prison and handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, with an indefinite requirement to remain on the Sex Offenders' Register.
The case was a joint investigation by the NWROCU and Police Scotland.
Police Statement
Detective Constable Adam Cronshaw said: 'The sentencing reflects the swift and decisive action taken after officers identified Thomas Maher's deeply disturbing online activity involving discussions of serious sexual harm to a child. The evidence demonstrated a clear intent to commit further offences, and his guilty plea reflects the strength of evidence against him.'
Cronshaw added: 'This investigation highlights our ongoing commitment to protecting children and ensuring those who seek to exploit or harm them are identified, arrested, and brought before the courts.'
