In 2026, the Offender Database recorded that two deeply depraved predators, Karl Sharples, then 38, of Radcliffe, Bury, and Mark Whitworth, then 57, of Atherton, Wigan, were jailed for a horrific range of 66 rape and sexual abuse offences. On appearing at Manchester Crown Court for sentencing, it was reported that the pair targeted five young children, some as young as seven. The court reported that the defendants were involved in a systematic campaign of grooming, sexual assault, and rape.
The investigation established that Sharples was convicted of rape, two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, seven counts of sexual assault, and two counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child. Greater Manchester Police reported that Whitworth’s crimes were even more extensive, involving 33 counts of rape and sexual assault, including six counts of raping a child under 13. The prosecution reported that the abuse also included causing children to watch sexual acts and inciting them to engage in sexual activity in Manchester, Greater Manchester.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that the scale of the depravity plumbed new depths of cruelty against defenseless victims. Manchester Crown Court heard how both men exploited their positions to groom the five children over a sustained period. The prosecution reported that Whitworth was also guilty of ten counts of assault by penetration, further illustrating the barbaric nature of the exploitation carried out in Radcliffe and Atherton.
Judge Kate Cornell noted that the horrendous string of crimes necessitated the most severe custodial terms. For his actions in Radcliffe, Sharples was jailed for 12 years. For his lead role in the abuse in Atherton, Whitworth was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years. The judge noted that both men represent a permanent danger to children and issued Sexual Harm Prevention Orders (SHPOs) to ensure long-term public protection in Greater Manchester.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For their crimes in England, the following sentences were handed down:
- Mark Whitworth: Life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years (March 2026).
- Karl Sharples: 12 years in prison (March 2026).
- Sex Offenders Register: Both notification requirements were activated for life.
- SHPO: Both were made subject to Sexual Harm Prevention Orders.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Manchester Crown Court following a Greater Manchester Police investigation.
- Origin: Atherton, Wigan (Whitworth) and Radcliffe, Bury (Sharples).
Monitoring and Public Protection
Sharples and Whitworth are managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) at the highest level of oversight by Greater Manchester Police and the prison estate. Due to the nature of the 66 offences and the grooming of multiple children as young as seven in Radcliffe and Atherton, their management is subject to intensive scrutiny by the Public Protection Unit.
As members of the Sex Offenders Register, both men must comply with notification requirements regarding their identity and residence for the remainder of their lives. Authorities state that their history of systematic sexual violence and the psychological trauma inflicted on five children in Greater Manchester necessitates permanent and stringent monitoring of their conduct. Any future attempt to contact children or a breach of their SHPOs in Wigan, Bury, or elsewhere will result in immediate arrest and a return to the court system for further incarceration.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on reporting a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.