MARK HARRISON FROM PRESTWICH AND WHITEFIELD SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES INVOLVING SCHOOLGIRL

In December 2013, a former mathematics teacher from Whitefield, Mark Harrison, was sentenced to 30 months in prison after being found guilty of grooming and engaging in sexual activities with a 14-year-old girl. Harrison, aged 49 and residing on Stanley Road in Whitefield, had previously worked at St Monica's High School in Prestwich for a period of 17 years. Despite leaving the school in December 2012, he later returned under the guise of helping with the school orchestra and a stage production, which allowed him to maintain contact with students, including the victim.

Harrison's criminal behavior was initiated through social media platforms, where he began grooming the girl by establishing a relationship online. This was followed by frequent text messages sent to her mobile phone, gradually escalating to in-person meetings. The culmination of his misconduct occurred at his mother’s house, where he engaged in sexual activity with the girl. The investigation revealed that Harrison had traveled to meet the girl on at least two occasions between March 1 and May 20 of that year, with the explicit intent of committing sexual offenses.

During the court proceedings, Detective Sergeant Louise Bentley expressed her concern over the profound impact the abuse had on the victim, stating that she