A convicted murderer has pleaded guilty to kidnapping a 15-year-old girl, holding her hostage, and sexually abusing her before police discovered her tied up in a hotel car park. Paul Sharpe, 56, from Stockport, was found with the teenager at a hotel car park in Knutsford, Cheshire, on May 18.
Details of the Kidnapping
Sharpe, of Yates Street, Portwood, appeared at Minshull Street Crown Court on July 3, where he pleaded guilty to 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 is due to be sentenced on September 4.
The incident began at around 7:30pm on Bradgate Road in Altrincham, where Sharpe threatened the teenager with a knife, put her in a headlock, and forced her into his car. Claiming that her father owed him money, he drove to a Manchester Airport car park and tied her wrists and ankles with a necktie.
Eight-Hour Ordeal
According to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), over the next few hours, Sharpe drove to different car parks in the surrounding area. He forced the girl to drink alcohol, sexually assaulted her, and at one point masturbated while touching her feet. The girl had been reported missing by her mother, and police used CCTV to identify Sharpe's car.
Officers eventually located the pair in his car at a Knutsford hotel car park. Sharpe was arrested and during interview said he had been feeling bad and so kidnapped the girl thinking it would be easier than kidnapping an adult, according to the CPS.
Prosecutor's Statement
Hannah Gee, senior Crown prosecutor for the North West, said: "Paul Sharpe, a convicted murderer, kidnapped an innocent girl at knifepoint in broad daylight. In this terrifying incident, the victim was held captive for eight hours while Sharpe forced her to drink alcohol and sexually assaulted him."
She added: "Sharpe gave no thought to the impact his actions, for his own depraved reasons, would have on his victim. Although his guilty pleas today have spared her from the ordeal of a trial, I would like to thank the girl, and her family, for supporting this prosecution and ensuring this dangerous offender is back where he belongs."
