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Urmston pensioner charged with rape of child and 14 historic sexual offences across Didsbury area

A 63-year-old Urmston man has been charged with sexually abusing children over a 20-year period – including the alleged rape of a child.

Alan Dawson, of Newcroft Road, Urmston, is charged with a number of historical sexual offences, including the rape of a child under 16 as well as 14 counts of indecent assault on a female child under the age of 16.

The investigation looked into reports of historic abuse in the Didsbury area of Manchester between the 1960s and 1980s.

Dawson is due before Salford and Manchester City Magistrates’ Court on July 22.

The charges relate to four different victims, all women, who are currently receiving support and advice from specially-trained officers.

Greater Manchester is nationally recognised as a model of good practice in terms of support services available to victims with a number of different services available.

People are encouraged not to suffer in silence and should report it or contact a support agency to get help and support.

Anyone who is affected by this investigation should call DC Terina Arthern on 0161 856 6063.

Manchester Rape Crisis is a confidential support service run by women for women and girls who have been raped or sexually abused and their confidential helpline is 0161 273 4500.

Survivors Manchester offers support and counselling for adult male survivors of sexual abuse and rape, regardless of when the event happened and their contact number is 07919 246 267.

You can call Greater Manchester Police on 101, or alternatively people can refer themselves to St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre on 0161 276 6515.

St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Manchester provides a comprehensive and coordinated forensic, counselling and medical aftercare service to anyone in Greater Manchester who has experienced rape or sexual assault.

Services are available on a 24-hour basis and people can access them either as a self-referral or via Greater Manchester Police.

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