Man Sentenced for Sex Offences - Radcliffe

Reporter: Ask Bury
Date online: 29 February 2008

A man has been sentenced to three years at Bolton Crown Court today, Thursday 28 February 2008, after indecently assaulting three schoolgirls in Radcliffe.

Michael Philip Loach (born 27/09/72) of Sutherland Flats, Angel Meadow, Heywood, Rochdale pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual touching on Wednesday 12 December 2007.

On Friday 6 July 2007, two girls, aged 15 and 16, were walking to school on School Street in Radcliffe just before 9am when Loach approached them and ask for directions. Loach then reached forward and tried to grab the 15 year old, putting his hand up her skirt but she managed to move away quickly and ran off. He then grabbed the 16 year old's skirt, ripping it as she too ran away. The girls ran to school and reported what had happened to their teacher, who called police.

About ten minutes later Loach approached another 16 year old girl who was walking down Chard Street in Radclifffe, also on her way to school. He asked her for directions and, as she began to point to where it was, he pushed her against the wall of a house and put his hand up her skirt.

When the girl screamed, Loach put his hand over her mouth but, as she continued to scream, he ran off.

Three people from nearby houses heard the screaming. One woman came out to see what had happened, a man called police and another man looked out of his window and saw the incident as it happened. He rushed out of his house and ran in the direction Loach had gone in. He then saw a dark blue Ford Escort stopped at traffic lights and recognised the man inside as the offender. He opened the door of the car and grabbed Loach who shouted, quot;It wasn't me", before driving off.

The man recorded Loach's registration number on his mobile, flagged down a police car and passed the details to officers.

A short time later a police patrol saw the car on Ainsworth Road. Loach stopped the car and tried to run away, but officers chased him and he was arrested.

Later the same day, officers searched Loach's house were they discovered a quantity woman's underwear.

Detective Inspector Lynne Vernon from Bury CID said: quot;It is thanks to the quick reaction of members of the public that we were able to get Loach so quickly and ensure that he could not continue to prey on young girls in this area.

"What happened must have been extremely upsetting for the girls but they did exactly the right thing by running away and reporting what had happened to a teacher."