Manideep Bolishetty

Manideep Bolishetty, a 27-year-old man from Newcastle, was sentenced to seven years in prison for his role in sexually abusing two vulnerable schoolgirls, alongside his friend Amit Gulati. Bolishetty's involvement came after Gulati introduced him to one of the victims and encouraged him to molest the other, contributing to the extended period of serious sexual abuse endured by the young girls.

The convictions were handed down at Newcastle Crown Court, where Bolishetty was found guilty of two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. The court proceedings revealed that Bolishetty, who holds an engineering degree, claimed ignorance of the age of consent during the offences. The victims' impact statements underscored the devastating effects of the abuse, with one girl expressing fear that the perpetrators might be released and harm other children, and the other describing ongoing therapy to cope with the trauma inflicted by the men.

Judge Gavin Doig addressed the severity of the crimes during sentencing, emphasising the bravery of the victims and the profound harm caused. Bolishetty, of Tamworth Road, Newcastle, upon Tyne, was locked up for seven years as part of the joint sentencing with Gulati. Like his co-offender, he must sign the sex offenders register for life and is subject to indefinite sexual harm prevention orders and a restraining order.

This case, detailed in a Chronicle Live article dated 26 January 2026, illustrates the collaborative nature of the sexual exploitation in the North East region. The investigation was handled by Northumbria Police, focusing on protecting vulnerable children from such predatory behaviour. The article highlights the long-term psychological damage to the victims, who will carry the trauma for the rest of their lives.