A man has been jailed for 26 years after being convicted of 31 offences including rape, sexual assault and indecent assault against five children over a period spanning more than two decades.
Thomas O’Rourke, born on 31 December 1951, of Newton Heath, was sentenced at Bolton Crown Court on Monday 6 July following a trial.
The offences were committed between the 1970s and the 1990s in locations including Middleton and Blackley.
O’Rourke was found guilty of 31 counts of rape, sexual assault and indecent assault involving five survivors.
Several survivors described the lasting impact of the abuse in victim impact statements read to the court.
One survivor said, “I stand here today to finish giving that child you tried to destroy, her voice, and end all the hurt you caused.”
She added, “You made me feel so dirty and embarrassed for so many years.”
She also said, “I can go on and on about how much damage you have caused, not only me but the other survivors involved in this case, because just like myself they are not victims, they are survivors. But I have chosen not to give you any more of my precious time.”
Another survivor said she had been reluctant to write a statement because she did not see herself as a victim but hoped O’Rourke would understand “and feels even a little remorse for the damage he has done.”
A third survivor told the court, “My childhood was taken from me, and my teen years were disrupted. It took me a long time to report the abuse, but it will take me longer to recover.”
She added, “I feared him, but I am in the control seat now, as he will never be able to hide the abuse he enjoyed all those years ago.”
Greater Manchester Police said the investigation began after the first survivor reported the abuse in 2019. Detectives then identified and traced further survivors, leading to a wider investigation that resulted in O’Rourke’s prosecution.
Detective Constable Jordan Wilcock, who led the investigation, praised the survivors for their determination.
He said, “I would like to start by commending the courage of the survivors. It takes immense strength to go through any investigation however the fact it has taken seven years, and they have continued with it shows bravery beyond words and their commitment to ensure Thomas O’Rourke spends the rest of his life behind bars.”
He described O’Rourke as “a predator” who targeted children by presenting himself as someone who could be trusted.
Detective Constable Wilcock added that the sentence should reassure anyone who has experienced abuse that police will investigate reports regardless of when the offences took place.
He said, “This sentence shows that no matter when it happened, we will investigate and do all that we can for survivors.”
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