OLDHAM HERO CHRISTOPHER HARDEN CAUGHT SEX PEST IN OLDHAM PARK

In a remarkable act of bravery, a council gardener from Oldham was formally recognized by a judge for his quick and courageous intervention in a disturbing incident involving a dangerous sex offender. The incident unfolded at Copster Park, where the gardener, Lee Gannon, aged 31, who primarily spends his days tending to flower beds and maintaining the park’s green spaces, became an unlikely hero.

Gannon’s quick thinking and decisive action prevented what could have been a far more serious assault. The events began when Harden, a 47-year-old man with a history of sexual offenses, approached a 13-year-old boy and engaged him in conversation. Harden then produced a knife, coercing the young victim into unzipping his trousers, an act that immediately raised alarm bells.

Despite the boy’s attempt to escape, Harden pursued him, dragging him into nearby bushes. It was at this critical moment that Gannon, who was nearby, noticed Harden’s suspicious behavior. Initially mistaking the pair for a father and son, Gannon’s attention was drawn when he saw Harden forcibly dragging the boy into the shrubbery. Recognizing the potential danger, Gannon approached and asked if the boy was okay. The boy, visibly distressed, explained that Harden had tried to do something harmful.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Gannon swiftly intervened, chasing Harden and apprehending him until police arrived. During this time, Harden was shouting that he had done nothing wrong, but Gannon’s presence and actions were instrumental in preventing further harm. The police later confirmed that Harden had been viewing child pornography online just fifteen minutes before the attack, highlighting his dangerous and predatory behavior. Harden was subsequently convicted in October of charges related to indecent assault and possession of child pornography, receiving a sentence of three and a half years in prison.

Following the incident, Gannon was formally recognized for his bravery. He was invited to Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester, where he received a commendation from the trial judge, Judge Timothy Mort, and the High Sheriff of Greater Manchester, Peter Mallick. Judge Mort praised Gannon’s quick response, stating, “You played a vital part protecting the boy from a more serious assault and worked very hard to bring this man to justice. You acted with great presence of mind and, by your public-spirited actions, ensured that an offender who had committed a serious crime was arrested.”

In his remarks, the judge also humorously suggested that the Royal Horticultural Society should consider giving Gannon a commendation for his efforts, given his role as a gardener. Harden, a married man and father of one, pleaded guilty to five charges of making indecent images of children and was convicted of indecent assault by a jury. His actions and subsequent conviction underscore the importance of vigilance and bravery in protecting vulnerable individuals from predatory offenders.