Man who attacked lone women in the city centre has been jailed for life
Stuart Thomson has been sentenced to life in prison for a series of violent sexual assaults in Manchester, including three counts of rape, attempted rape, sexual assault, and threatening with a bladed article. The attacks occurred in the early hours of January 31, 2024, on Mancunian Way. Thomson was identified through CCTV footage and distinctive clothing, leading to his arrest. Despite pleading not guilty, he was found guilty after a ten-day trial. The case was praised for the courage of the victims and the thorough investigation by the Longsight Criminal Investigation Department and CPS North West.
Stuart Thomson, 34, will spend the rest of his life behind bars after a jury convicted him of a string of knife-point sex attacks carried out on the same Manchester street in a single morning.
The predator struck four times on Mancunian Way between 2 a.m. and dawn on 31 January 2024, raping three women and trying to rape a fourth after luring each one to the isolated road. All four victims told officers the same story: a man had threatened them with a blade before forcing himself on them.
Detectives launched an urgent manhunt after the emergency calls began flooding in. CCTV cameras soon revealed a figure in distinctive clothing—grey-insert hoodie, green-lined coat, woollen hat and high-vis T-shirt—circling the area. When a hat matching one victim’s description was found at the scene, forensic tests initially pointed to the wrong man, but the trail led officers to a nearby hostel. There, in the foyer, Thomson walked past wearing the same green-lined jacket caught on camera hours earlier. He was arrested on the spot and the clothes he had worn during the attacks were recovered from his room.
Thomson refused to answer any questions in interview, but witness statements, CCTV and the seized clothing gave the Crown Prosecution Service enough evidence to charge. After a ten-day trial at Crown Square Crown Court, the Stockport man was found guilty on Thursday 28 November of three counts of rape, attempted rape, sexual assault, three counts of threatening with a blade and possession of a bladed article. Judge Maurice Greene imposed a life sentence with a minimum term of 21 years.
Detective Sergeant Jennifer Savazzi said: “It’s clear that Stuart Thomson is a dangerous sexual predator. He forcibly imposed himself upon these women in a violent and callous way with no consideration for the damage he was doing to them.” She praised the victims for “extraordinary courage” and added: “By not accepting responsibility, Thomson has forced them to relive their pain throughout this trial.”
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