Harvie Aspden

Harvie Aspden, 25, from Radcliffe, was sentenced as part of a group of ten men convicted of grooming and sexually exploiting girls under 16 in Greater Manchester. Aspden was found guilty of sexual activity with a child by a young person, involving direct abuse of the victims within the exploitative framework employed by the group.

The network used manipulative strategies to target and coerce the girls into sexual encounters, often building false trust before abusing them. A key victim's report exposed the crimes, resulting in court proceedings. At Liverpool Crown Court, Aspden was given a one-year and three-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, for two counts of sexual activity with a child by a young person. Gill Petrovic from CPS North West noted the appalling manipulation and its traumatic consequences, supported by victim impact statements detailing devastation and sadness. The 29 April 2025 CPS press release outlines the sentencing and the CPS's resolve to prosecute such offences in partnership with police.