Chief praises officers who helped bring down dangerous offender

The Chief Constable of Cheshire Constabulary has praised officers for their assistance in helping to bring a dangerous offender to justice and safeguard a teenage girl.

Paul Sharpe, 56, of Stockport, was sentenced to life imprisonment with an eight-year minimum term in prison on Friday 4 September 2026 for numerous charges, including kidnap, sexual assault and related offences.

The case was led by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) however officers from Cheshire Police played an important role early in the case by arresting Sharpe in Knutsford on 19 May 2026.

The previous evening, on 18th May 2026, Cheshire Police was alerted by GMP to concerns for a teenager who had been reported missing in the Altrincham area and was believed to have been kidnapped.

GMP carried out extensive CCTV and ANPR enquiries, identifying a suspect vehicle. Further investigations established that the vehicle was registered to Sharpe. This information was shared with Cheshire Police to help locate the victim.

Response and armed patrols from Cheshire headed to the Knutsford area, to search the last known location of the vehicle near to Cottons Hotel.

At around 3.40am on 19th May 2026, Cheshire Police officers located Sharpe's vehicle in the hotel car park. Officers found both Sharpe and the victim inside the vehicle and immediately safeguarded the victim and arrested Sharpe.

You can read more about the case and GMP’s investigation here: 

Man sentenced to life with a minimum of eight years after kidnapping and sexually assaulting teenage girl | Greater Manchester Police

Chief Constable Mark Roberts, Cheshire Constabulary, said:

“In policing there are no borders and this coordinated effort between GMP and Cheshire Police’s Force Control Centre, response officers and ARV colleagues was pivotal in detaining a dangerous offender.

“I would like to extend my thanks to the officers involved in locating the vehicle and subsequently arresting Sharpe. Their swift and decisive actions prevented further harm coming to a young girl who had already suffered such a terrible ordeal.

“This case is an important reminder of how police forces work together to safeguard our communities and protect members of the public.”