Thirteen men appear in court charged with more than 50 child grooming sex offences including raping girls as young as 14 over two-year period

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Thirteen men have appeared in court charged with more than 50 child grooming sex offences including raping girls as young as 14. 

The men are accused of numerous offences against multiple girls, aged between 14 and 17, over a two-year period between 2016 and 2018 - mainly in the Blackrod and Adlington areas of Bolton, Greater Manchester.

They were brought into court today in groups of three or four for brief hearings at Bolton Magistrates' Court. No pleas were entered and all 13 were bailed until May 10. 

Their bail conditions are not to have contact with a female under 16, not to contact any complainants in the case, not to contact any co-accused and not to attend a specified address in the area. They all must also live at their home address, given to the police.

Michael Linfoot, 21, (pictured) is accused of one count of the rape of a girl aged 15 in the Rivington area of Lancashire in 2018

Richard Haslam, 34, (pictured) of Bolton has been charged with three counts of rape of a female under the age of 16 and two counts of sexual activity with a female under the age of 16

Thomas Rae, 21, (pictured) is also accused of one count of the rape of a girl aged 15 in the Rivington area of Lancashire in 2018

The men were arrested following Greater Manchester Police (GMP) launching Operation Pavarotti, the force's investigation into child sexual exploitation allegations in the area. 

Peter Williams, prosecuting, told magistrates today that the alleged offences were serious and needed to be dealt with before a judge at a crown court. 

The 13 accused are Ashley Darbyshire, 26, of Westhoughton, charged with two counts of causing/inciting sexual activity with a child, five rapes of a female under the age of 16, and seven counts of sexual activity with female under the age of 16.

Harvie Aspden, 23, of Bolton, has been charged with four counts of sexual activity with a female under 16.

Cory Barrett, 22, of Wigan, has been charged with three counts of rape of a female under 16, two counts of sexual activity with a female under the age of 16 and two counts of sexual assault of a female under the age of 16.

Callum Hesketh, 22, (pictured) is accused of making indecent Snapchat videos of a child in the same area at the same time

Jamie Fitzgerald, 34, (pictured) of Bolton, has been charged with one count of sexual activity with a female under the age of 16

Ashley Darbyshire, 26, (pictured) of Westhoughton, is charged with two counts of causing/inciting sexual activity with a child, five rapes of a female under the age of 16, and seven counts of sexual activity with female under the age of 16

Ross Corley, 28, of Bolton, (pictured) has been charged with two counts of sexual activity with a female under the age of 16

Daniel Flatters, 32, of Bolton, has been charged with one count of rape of a female under the age of 16, two counts of sexual activity with a female under the age of 16 and one count of aggravated TWOC (Taking Without Consent). 

Jack Poulson, 29, of Bolton, has been with charged with four counts of rape of a female under 16, five counts of sexual activity with a female under the age of 16 and one count of sexual communication with a female under the age of 16.

Jamie Fitzgerald, 34, of Bolton, has been charged with one count of sexual activity with a female under the age of 16.

Elliott Turner, 34, of Bolton, has been charged with one count of rape of a female under the age of 16.

Ross Corley, 28, of Bolton, has been charged with two counts of sexual activity with a female under the age of 16.

Brandon Harwood, 23, of Bolton, is charged with on count of rape of a girl aged 14 and two counts of sexual activity with a female under the age of 16.

Elliott Turner, 34, (pictured) of Bolton, has been charged with one count of rape of a female under the age of 16

Daniel Flatters, 32, (pictured) of Bolton, has been charged with one count of rape of a female under the age of 16, two counts of sexual activity with a female under the age of 16 and one count of aggravated TWOC

Harvie Aspden, 23, (pictured) of Bolton, has been charged with four counts of sexual activity with a female under 16

Richard Haslam, 34, of Bolton has been charged with three counts of rape of a female under the age of 16 and two counts of sexual activity with a female under the age of 16.

Michael Linfoot, 21, and Thomas Rae, 21, are each accused of one count of the rape of a girl aged 15 in the Rivington area of Lancashire in 2018.

Callum Hesketh, 22, is accused of making indecent Snapchat videos of a child in the same area at the same time.

All of the accused have been bailed until May 10 when they are expected to appear at Bolton Crown Court.    

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