In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that then 42-year-old Darren Rothwell was sentenced to 26 months in prison for sexually assaulting a five-year-old girl while travelling home from prison. Appearing at Bolton Crown Court, Greater Manchester, the defendant—of Scholes, Wigan, Greater Manchester—pleaded guilty to the sexual assault which occurred on a train between Manchester and Wigan. It was reported that Rothwell had been released from HMP Forest Bank only hours earlier, where he had been serving a sentence for harassment and assault.
The investigation established that Rothwell boarded a train at Manchester Victoria and targeted two women travelling with their young children. British Transport Police reported that Rothwell acted aggressively, drinking brandy and bragging about his criminal history, including a 2009 conviction for rape, sexual activity with a child, and child abduction under the alias Darren Noonan. The prosecution reported that as the train approached Wigan, Greater Manchester, Rothwell picked up the five-year-old girl and sexually assaulted her in front of her mother.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that the victim’s mother and her friend had to intervene to pull the child away from Rothwell during the attack. Bolton Crown Court, Greater Manchester, heard that the women used the discreet 61016 text service to alert the authorities while still on the train. The investigation established that Rothwell failed to attend a probation appointment later that afternoon and was arrested on 20 October after breaching a restraining order against an ex-partner.
Detective Constable Ian Grice described Rothwell as an exceptionally dangerous individual who had no desire to rehabilitate himself. For his actions in Wigan, Greater Manchester, Rothwell was returned to custody to serve his new sentence. The judge noted that the trauma inflicted upon the young child and her family was significant, particularly given that the offender had not even made it home from his previous incarceration before committing further predatory acts.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in England, the status of Darren Rothwell as of late 2019 was as follows:
- Custodial Sentence: 26 months (Sentenced 2019).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active for life.
- Legal Status: Returned to HMP Forest Bank following the conviction.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Bolton Crown Court, Greater Manchester, following a British Transport Police investigation.
- Criminal Record: Sexual assault; Previous convictions for rape, sexual activity with a child, and child abduction.
- Origin: Scholes, Wigan, Greater Manchester.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Rothwell is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) within the Greater Manchester area. Due to the nature of his conduct in Wigan, Greater Manchester, which involved the opportunistic targeting of a child in a public space immediately following prison release, his management is a maximum priority. Authorities state that his total disregard for licensing conditions and his history of child abduction require the most intensive supervision by the Public Protection Unit and the British Transport Police.
As a registered sex offender for life, Rothwell’s details are permanently logged on the national police database. Authorities state that his predatory behaviour on the railway network demonstrated a high risk of immediate reoffending. Any failure to comply with his notification requirements or any attempt to approach minors in public settings will result in immediate arrest to ensure the ongoing safety of the community and to uphold the protection of the public from a confirmed and persistent sexual predator.
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.