Manchester man jailed after being found guilty of sexual assault

On Thursday 18 January 2024, Stuart Eyles (20/11/1976) of Buckley Drive, Romiley, Stockport was found guilty at Manchester Crown Court of 3 counts of sexual assault and has been sentenced to 15 months in prison after an incident in Gately in July 2023.

 Eyles has also been issued with a sexual harm prevention order and been made to sign the sex offenders register for life.

Greater Manchester Police were called to Church Road, Gately in Stockport in relation to two emergency 999 calls made on 2 July 2023.

One of the emergency calls made officers aware a man was acting aggressively, and another caller reported a child had been the victim of a sexual assault.

Responding police officers were flagged down by members of the public at the Church Road carpark in Gately and three people under the age of 18 disclosed to officers that a man had approached them and touched them inappropriately at a festival.

Eyles was identified by police in the nearby area and was subsequently arrested in Church Road, on suspicion of sexual assault on a child and later charged and remanded for three counts of sexual assault.

Detective Sergeant Ruth Pollard, of GMP's Stockport Child Protection Unit, said: "The team worked hard in bringing this case to court, they were diligent in gathering evidence to create a timeline of events that led up to the incidents to ensure that Eyles spends time behind bars.

"The nature of these offences must not be underestimated. Sexual offences can have a damaging impact on the victims, creating trauma that they have to then carry with them for the rest of their lives.

"The victims are being supported by our policing partners and on behalf of the investigation team we would like to thank the victims for their extraordinary bravery in coming forward and reporting Eyles and I'd also like to appeal to anyone who has suffered from abuse to please get in touch so we can help you.

“We would encourage anyone who has been a victim of sexual assault, or knows someone who has, to get in touch with GMP. We will listen to you and we will investigate.”

Greater Manchester Police can be contacted via 101 or through the Live Chat function on the website, www.gmp.police.uk. Reports can also be made anonymously through the independent charity – Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.