BOBBY CARR FROM LITTLE HULTON AND TONGE MOOR SENTENCED FOR ABDUCTION AND SEXUAL ASSAULT OF SIX-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In September 2012, a harrowing incident unfolded involving a six-year-old girl who was abducted and subjected to a sexual assault, an ordeal that lasted for approximately six hours. The perpetrator, Bobby Carr, a 19-year-old man residing on Moorland Drive in Little Hulton, was ultimately apprehended and sentenced to a lengthy prison term at Bolton Crown Court.

The terrifying events began on the evening of September 21 when the young girl was at her family home in Tonge Moor. Her older brother and his friend had gone out to play on their bikes in the nearby park, leaving her at home. At around 5:15 pm, a man identified as Bobby Carr knocked on the family’s door. Carr inquired about the location of the local park, claiming he wanted to retrieve his bicycle from the boy’s friend. Believing Carr to be a responsible adult and a friend of her brother’s family, the girl’s father instructed her to accompany Carr to the park and bring his brother home.

However, this seemingly innocent request quickly turned into a nightmare. As the girl and Carr headed towards the park, concern grew when her brother returned home alone at 7 pm, and her father contacted the boy’s friend’s family. It was then discovered that Carr was not known to them, and the situation took a sinister turn. The family immediately alerted the police, and a frantic search was launched involving over 50 officers, a helicopter, dog handlers, and members of the local community from Little Hulton and Tonge Moor.

Throughout the evening, social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook were flooded with messages and pleas for information, as the community desperately hoped for her safe return. The child's muddy and dirty appearance was noted by officers who found her in a distressed state. She was eventually spotted outside the Royal Bolton Hospital just after 11 pm by a student nurse taking a cigarette break. The nurse’s suspicion led to her being observed with Carr, and police were called immediately. Carr was arrested, and the girl was reunited with her distraught parents.

Medical examinations revealed that the child had sustained cuts and bruises on her back, buttocks, and legs. Her clothing was muddy, and forensic evidence confirmed she had been sexually assaulted. During police interviews, she recounted how Carr had taken her to a dark, wooded area where he threatened to kill her if she did not submit to his sexual advances. She described seeing police helicopter lights while lying in the woods, which she later recognized as the search for her. The trauma from the attack has left her fearful of strangers and unwilling to play outside.

In court, the full details of her abduction and assault were presented. Carr, who had pleaded guilty to charges of false imprisonment, abduction, and sexual assault, was described as having mild learning difficulties. His defense attorney, Michael Knowles, stated that Carr deeply regretted his actions and claimed that the incident was not premeditated but was partly influenced by alcohol consumption. It was also revealed that while in custody awaiting sentencing, Carr attempted to write to a 13-year-old victim of another sex offender, raising further concerns about his risk to the public.

Judge Timothy Clayson, the Honorary Recorder of Bolton, sentenced Carr to an extended prison term for public protection, which will last for 10 years, followed by an additional three years on license. The court also imposed strict restrictions, including a ban on working with children and a requirement for Carr to notify police of his whereabouts for the rest of his life. Furthermore, a Sex Offences Prevention Order was issued, prohibiting him from communicating with anyone under 16 without a responsible adult present and restricting contact with other sex offenders unless on a supervised course or in prison.

This case underscores the grave dangers posed by individuals like Bobby Carr and highlights the importance of community vigilance and swift law enforcement action in protecting vulnerable children from harm.