The Offender Database has reported that on Thursday, 13 November 2025, at Manchester Crown Court, William Howarth (born 28 July 2002), the Miles Platting paedophile child molester, was sentenced to nine years and eight months of imprisonment, with an additional six years on licence.
This follows an inquiry by our Sex Offender Crime Investigation Team (SOCIT) after William Howarth was discovered with an unregistered mobile phone during a visit from his offender manager in 2023, as he is a registered sex offender supervised by GMP under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).
William Howarth underwent regular inspections in which he was required to register his mobile device and surrender it to his offender management from the Sex Offender Management Unit (SOMU) during home visits.
William Howarth was determined to have violated his SHPO, resulting in the immediate confiscation of his mobile device. Forensic analysis revealed that he had sent many communications to several girls under the age of 16.
An investigation was immediately launched, and with the help of police forces across the country, we managed to trace the children with whom William Howarth had been in communication. They bravely agreed to give their accounts.
One of the child victims told police how William Howarth would call her “fat” and a “whore”. Whilst he told another girl that he liked her petite body and how big he would look next to her.
Another victim was living in terror after William Howarth told her that nobody would believe what she had to say because she was young. In a message to her, he said, “It sounds wrong, but honestly, I don’t want to leave you. I’d rather risk it with you than leave u” Following him, he then disclosed to her his real age.
William Howarth would send messages to these child victims about what he would like to do to them sexually, and would frequently request indecent images of them, directing what poses he wanted them to do for him. In return, he would send them videos of himself masturbating.
The child victims also explained how they felt pressured into sending him pictures of themselves to Howarth, and some were even subjected to threats from him.
One child victim described to police how she blocked William Howarth on a social media site, but that she would receive friend requests from different accounts he would use to continue to message her. When he did manage to message her, he would threaten to distribute images of her online.
William Howarth displayed controlling behaviour over the children he had been in contact with, not allowing them to refuse his requests. When the children attempted to make a stand and refuse to send further images, William Howarth threatened them by stating that if they didn’t comply, he would post their pictures online for everyone to see.
In a hearing at Manchester Crown Court on 10 November 2025, Howarth pleaded guilty to the following 35 offences:
- 11 counts of breaches of Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).
- Possession of class A indecent images of children.
- Possession of class B indecent images of children.
- Possession of class C indecent images of children.
- Six counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child.
- Two counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.
- Three counts of causing a child aged 13-15 to view an image of sexual activity.
- Two counts of causing/inciting a girl aged 13-15 to engage in sexual activity.
- Distributing category B indecent images of a child.
- Two counts of distributing category C indecent images of a child.
- Two counts of threatening to share a photograph or film of a person in an intimate state.
- Making Class A: Indecent Images of Children.
- Making Class B: Indecent Images of Children.
- Making Class C: Indecent Images of Children.
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.