Two men jailed after grooming ‘troubled and vulnerable’ young boys before vile sexual abuse

Two men have been jailed after grooming ‘troubled and vulnerable’ young boys with cash, cigarettes and alcohol before committing vile sexual abuse over two decades.

David Marsh, 74, and Anthony Whitehead, 72, were found guilty of grooming and sexually abusing the boys following a four-week trial at Minshull Street Crown Court. The court heard that the men exploited a number of boys in Rochdale between the 80s and 90s, grooming them with cash, alcohol and cigarettes.

The offences came to light in 2019 after Greater Manchester Police received a report that one of the victims confided in a person in authority that he had been sexually abused by two men as a boy. Investigators found that one of the men was dead but that the second man, Marsh, was alive.

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Their investigations led them to a sinister campaign of abuse by Marsh and Whitehead, who were not known to each other, but both bribed the boys with cash, alcohol and trips around the country before carrying out the sexual abuse.

Both men denied the offences, but jurors unanimously found them guilty of 35 offences. Today, November 27, following a sentencing hearing, they were both handed lengthy terms in prison.

Anna Pope, prosecuting said: “Each of the defendants played his part in the sexual abuse of troubled and vulnerable young teenagers from Rochdale. These children were from deprived backgrounds at home and the wider care system.

“Their particular troubled circumstances caused them to be vulnerable. The defendants preyed on these young men deliberately exploited them to satisfy themselves.”

Reading his statement via videolink from prison, one of the victims details the harrowing effect the abuse had on his life. He said he met Marsh at a young age after running away from home, and his violent father.

“David was really friendly and used to have a laugh and a joke [with me]. He made me feel comfortable in his company,” he said.

“He bought me cigarettes and alcohol and food - little did I know he was expecting something in return for these gifts. When the sexual abuse started, Marsh would also give me cash and I thought ‘well if I can earn money this way, it will stop me having to shoplift for food and drink’.

“The abuse went on and on. I started to block out my emotions to the point I didn’t care or think about what was happening. I started using drugs, and used them solely to try and forget about the repeated sexual abuse.”

He said that he became addicted to drugs, and resorted to petty crime to fund his addiction.

“Marsh is a real danger to society. He has a preference for young boys and I believe he targeted young boys because they are easier to control. He preferred them as young as he could get them,” he continued. “He completely ruined my life, and smashed it into a million pieces.”

Another victim said Marsh had groomed him with gifts that he never had as a youngster before he began to sexually abuse him. He said he began taking drugs as a means of escape, and said he felt ‘dirty, embarrassed and ashamed’.

“I got my justice the day I found out he was guilty - I cried,” he added.

Other victims spoke of their trauma, stating they suffered with poor mental health, drug problems, nightmares and a distrust in men. One said: “I literally was a broken man.”

Another said he had turned to the church for help with healing from the trauma, and felt he was able to ‘forgive himself’ but could not forgive Marsh or Whitehead.

The court heard that Marsh had three previous convictions for three offences including indecent assault on a male under 16 in the 1980s and possession of indecent images of children in the 1990s.

He was said to be in poor health and was concerned about his deterioration in prison, his barrister Colin Buckle said.

He said he had a difficult childhood due to being in the care system and then being fostered. Marsh then joined the armed forces at the age of 17 then moved into the merchant navy where he stayed for 25 years.

Of the impending prison term, he said: “He brought it upon himself, he knows that.”

Whitehead was said to have two previous convictions for nine offences including indecent assault on a male under 16 in the 1990s, and a similar offence in 2017, for which he was jailed for nine years.

Mitigating for Whitehead, Steven Swift said: “He served half of the 9 year sentence and then was arrested and questioned in relation to these matters. The court heard at the trial of his professional life that he worked until the age of 65.”

Jailing Marsh, Judge Matthew Corbett-Jones said: “They were all vulnerable young boys, who had troubled, unhappy lives that they were struggling to navigate. You exploited that by seizing the opportunity to use them in order to satisfy your own deviant sexual appetite for young boys.

“You did so with an air of arrogance and entitlement, no doubt knowing they would be grateful for the money, trips and other treats you paid for their silence.”

Of Whitehead, he said: “You are an intelligent and articulate man who, I’m sure, would have understood your actions towards the victim would have caused him tremendous harm.

“The impact is nothing less than profound and ongoing.”

David Marsh, of Northenden, was convicted of 27 offences of indecent assault, buggery (rape), and attempted buggery (attempted rape). He was jailed for 27 years, of which he will serve 18 in prison before being released on licence.

Anthony Whitehead, of Atherton, was convicted of six counts of indecent assaults. He was jailed for seven years.

Speaking after the hearing, Detective Constable Andrea Richards, who has worked on this case from the start, said: “I want to pay a massive tribute to all the male survivors who have played a pivotal role in bringing these abusers to long-awaited justice.

"It was an incredibly difficult decision for them to go through the process, but by doing so and putting their trust in the team they have ensured that Marsh and Whitehead face spending most of their remaining years behind bars.

“I commend and thank everyone we approached during the investigation, every single one of you deserve to be on your own unique healing journeys.

“I want to make clear, none of the male survivors should feel they have to carry the shame or guilt in this case, it is not theirs to carry. I hope that they all feel that they have finally got some justice.”

Assistant Chief Constable Steph Parker, GMP lead for vulnerability and public protection, said: “The commendable bravery of the survivors, and the immense tenacity of our detectives deserve great credit for bringing to justice two men who have finally been caught up by the severity of their despicable crimes.

“This investigation is a telling demonstration of how GMP does not allow the passage of time to be a barrier to justice. It has relied on brave victim testimony, many months of thorough enquiries and information sharing from partners, as well as ensuring we worked with specialist agencies to safeguard survivors and give them all of the support that they need.

“This old-fashioned detective work coupled with our modern approach to tackling child sexual offending represents a GMP that is determined to protect survivors and pursue perpetrators.

“Our top priority is protecting children across GM. If you are affected by this case or know someone who may be please contact us. Whether it be the children of today or yesterday, when you are ready we will listen.”

Wendy Chappell, District Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West’s rape and serious sexual offence unit, said: “Marsh conducted a vile campaign of sexual abuse on children as young as nine, while Whitehead sexually abused a fourteen-year-old boy. They acted solely for their own self-gratification, with no thought for the life-changing trauma their abuse would cause.

“These convictions send a very clear message that the Crown Prosecution Service, working alongside our law enforcement colleagues, will relentlessly pursue justice for victims and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, whenever that abuse took place.

“I would like to thank the men for reporting their abuse and making it possible to build this case and bring these sexual predators to justice.”