Francis Henshaw a resident of Bury New Road in Heywood, has been handed a nine-year prison sentence with a two-year extended licence after being found guilty of rape and sexual assault.
The conviction is the outcome of the dedicated work carried out by officers from the Greater Manchester Police (GMP), who displayed professionalism and unwavering determination in ensuring that Henshaw faced justice.
During a hearing at Minshull Street Crown Court yesterday (Monday 3 July 2023), it was revealed that Henshaw committed a sexual assault on a teenage victim in September 2022 while she was on her way to work in Manchester City Centre.
After coercing the victim to accompany him to a secluded area, Henshaw proceeded to sexually assault her. Fortunately, a member of the public intervened, leading the victim away from the scene.
In December 2022, Henshaw committed another offence when he approached a woman during a night out in Rochdale Town Centre. Shortly thereafter, he sexually assaulted and raped her in an isolated location.
Following thorough investigations, Henshaw was charged with both of these heinous crimes.
Detective Sergeant Steven Gilliland, from GMP’s Rochdale division, expressed his gratitude to the victims for their bravery throughout the proceedings. He also extended his appreciation to all the witnesses who came forward to assist in securing this outcome.
“The collective efforts of multiple officers and detectives have been instrumental in ensuring that the victims, in this case, received the justice they deserved,” said Detective Sergeant Gilliland.
He further emphasised the abhorrent nature of Henshaw’s actions and welcomed the significant sentence handed down by the court. This case serves as a clear warning to offenders in Greater Manchester that such behaviour will be met with zero tolerance.
