Overview
- Paul Sharpe, 56, admitted guilt at Minshull Street Crown Court on 3 July 2026 to six offences including kidnapping, sexual assault and threats with a bladed article.
- Prosecutors say the girl was taken at knifepoint, restrained, forced to drink alcohol and sexually assaulted during an ordeal lasting about eight hours.
- Police identified Sharpe’s vehicle from CCTV enquiries and found him with the girl in his car in a Knutsford hotel car park at about 3.40am on 19 May 2026 after she was reported missing.
- The Crown Prosecution Service and Greater Manchester Police built the case using CCTV and phone evidence and said Sharpe’s guilty pleas spared the victim from giving evidence at trial.
- Sharpe is a convicted murderer from Stockport with a previous life sentence and will be sentenced at Minshull Street Crown Court on 4 September 2026.