Bolton man jailed for sexually abusing children

A 35-year-old man has been jailed for numerous sexual offences involving two children, including making indecent images of them.

In May 2021 Greater Manchester Police searched Matthew Singleton’s home in Bolton after receiving intelligence that someone at the address was accessing indecent images of children and seized numerous electronic devices. In August 2022 officers seized further devices including a new mobile telephone.

After the devices were forensically examined, amongst the images and videos stored were recordings of Singleton sexually abusing two young girls aged between 3 and 5 years between 2015 and 2018.

Following a thorough police investigation which included the identification of the girls, the CPS authorised Singleton to be charged with 13 sexual offences including rape, sexual assault of a child and making indecent images of them, plus three further counts of making indecent images of children.

Singleton pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the girls, making indecent images of them and downloading other images, but throughout the case he denied rape. However, following a trial which concluded in February this year, the jury found him guilty of five counts of rape and one count of attempted rape.

Today he has been sentenced to 22 years in prison plus a six-year extended licence period. He was also given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Lauren Costello, Senior District Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West said: “Matthew Singleton is a dangerous sexual predator, who for his own sexual gratification has stolen the innocence of two innocent young girls.

“He recorded himself abusing the girls, saved them on his devices and even copied the videos onto his latest phone to allow him continued access to the footage.

“The families of the children are understandably devastated after finding out what Singleton had done. Instead of admitting the extent of his offences, he put them through the further ordeal of a trial. I hope that now as he begins this sentence, they can see that justice has been served.”