An Islamic extremist and a killer driver are among the criminals locked up in Greater Manchester this week.
Mohammad Bashir, 31, from Cheetham Hill, plotted to carry out a terror attack at a military base alongside Heaton Park Synagogue murderer Jihad Al-Shamie. This week, he was jailed for life with a minimum term of 17 years.
Terrence King, 60, from Middleton, who deliberately drove into a 15-year-old boy who had stolen an e-bike was also handed a life sentence.
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Prison terms are handed out to the worst offenders each week. Manchester Evening News dedicated court reporters are on hand to cover the most serious cases.
Here is a roundup of this week’s cases heard before our region’s courts…
Thomas Maher
Thomas Maher(Image: NWROCU)
A vile child sex offender planned the abuse of a young girl with a man he believed was her father. Thomas Maher, 64, from Burnage, has now been brought to justice and jailed.
Police condemned his ‘deeply disturbing online activity’, saying it was proof of ‘a clear intent to commit further offences’ against the youngster.
A court heard that in September 2025, Maher sent messages via a social media platform to someone he believed to be an adult male. Police said that during the exchange, he discussed plans to commit serious sexual offences against the man’s daughter, and outlined steps he intended to take to facilitate the abuse.
Maher, 64, of Lane End Road, Burnage, Manchester, pleaded guilty to arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence; possession of an indecent image of a child; making indecent photographs of a child and possession of extreme pornography. He was jailed for eight years.
Read the full story here: Man planned abuse of young girl with her dad before police made sickening find in his car
Peter West
Peter West(Image: Greater Manchester Police)
A man who groomed and sexually abused a teenage girl was jailed this week after her dad discovered sordid messages.
Peter West, 35, first began his abuse of the girl after meeting her on messaging platform, Telegram. The girl would go on to tell police that initially she told him she was 18 and sent him an edited picture of her passport to show her age. She said she later told him she was actually 14.
Over a matter of days the messages turned sexualised, with West asking her to call him ‘daddy’ and telling her she was ‘built for sex’.
He was arrested and gave no comment in a police interview, with the police informing him of the girl’s true age. Months later, when the girl’s dad checked her room again, he found messages and pictures shared between West and his daughter, showing that he had sexually abused her.
She went on to tell police that they had been meeting at his house on at least 14 occasions, and during almost all of them they had engaged in ‘sexual acts’. She also said she believed she was ‘in love with him’, Manchester Crown Court heard.
West, of Salford, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to: six offences of sexual activity with a child; engaging in sexual communication with a child; two offences of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity; causing a child to watch sexual activity; three offences of making indecent images of children; possession of a prohibited image; and distributing indecent images of children.
West, of Alder Street, Salford, was handed a 14 year term made up of eight years in jail and six years on licence. He must serve two thirds of the jail term before being considered for release by the Parole Board.
Read the full story here: Her dad suspected she was vaping, the truth was far more sinister
Mohammad Bashir
Mohammad Bashir
An Islamic extremist born and raised in Manchester who plotted to carry out a terror attack at a military base alongside the Heaton Park Synagogue murderer was jailed for life earlier this week.
Mohammad Bashir, 31, from Cheetham Hill, was told he must serve at least 17 years behind bars, but may never be released.
He plotted with Jihad Al-Shamie, the perpetrator of the Heaton Park synagogue terror attack, to carry out an atrocity at the UK Defence Academy in Oxfordshire.
Bashir drove Al-Shamie to the site, where Al-Shamie carried out ‘hostile reconnaissance’ and scoped out the reception area and main gate. No attack ever took place there.
But weeks after their 10 hour round trip to Oxfordshire, Al-Shamie, 35, drove his Kia Picanto into the gates of Heaton Park synagogue and began attacking with a knife while he wore a fake suicide belt.
The atrocity took place October 2 last year, on Yom Kippur, the most holy day in the Jewish calendar.
Adrian Daulby, 53, and 66-year-old Melvin Cravitz, both from Crumpsall, died. Mr Cravitz was stabbed while Mr Daulby was inadvertently shot by police as they scrambled to stop the carnage.
Syrian-born UK citizen Al-Shamie was shot dead at the scene by armed police. Bashir, who has no previous convictions, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court after pleading guilty to preparing a terrorist act in connection with their targeting of the Defence Academy. He was not charged in connection with the Heaton Park attack.
Read the full story here: Islamic extremist who plotted terrorist attack at defence base with Heaton Park synagogue murderer Jihad Al-Shamie jailed for life
Terrence King
Terrence King(Image: GMP)
A killer driver who mowed down a teenager in ‘an unlawful act of retribution’ has been jailed for life.
Terrence King, 60, deliberately ploughed into 15-year-old with his car, driving at almost double the speed limit. Devon Simmonds-Caines, who was riding a stolen e-bike, suffered catastrophic injuries and sadly died at the scene on Rowrah Crescent in Langley, Middleton on July 22, last year.
At trial, King claimed that he only wanted to ‘block in’ the bike to stop it, and that he had no intention of harming Devon. King first stood trial in January, when jurors were deadlocked and could not agree on a verdict. In the aftermath of the jury being discharged, King pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
Following a retrial earlier this month, King was found guilty of murder. King, of Castlerigg Drive, Middleton was jailed for life to serve a minimum of 16 years and one day.
A judge told him: “This was an act of unlawful private retribution. The robbery of the bike was wrong, but it did not entitle you to harm anyone. The law does not permit anger, panic or misguided loyalty to be turned into violence.”
Read the full story here: Killer driver who mowed down teenager ‘in unlawful act of retribution’ jailed for life
Kaelun Howe
Kaelun Howe(Image: Greater Manchester Police)
A thug in a ‘spiral of chaos’ robbed a Salford bookies at ‘gunpoint’ before being eventually arrested at Manchester Airport. Manchester Crown Court heard how Kaelun Howe, 22, burgled – and attempted to burgle – numerous premises in the days leading up to the robbery at the bookies.
In April this year, he turned up at a man’s house and pointed a gun at him through the peephole. “I’m going to shoot you,” he said.
Later that afternoon, Howe forced his way into the William Hill at Salford precinct, armed with what appeared to be a gun, but turned out to be a BB gun. The cashier moved into a safe room behind glass before Howe shot at it.
He then climbed onto the counter and stole the contents of the till.
His terrifying attacks ended when he was arrested at Manchester Airport. Howe, of no fixed address, was jailed for six years and nine months for a string of burglary and robbery offences.
Read the full story here: Gun-wielding robber in ‘spiral of chaos’ had one question for police after Manchester Airport arrest
Muhammad Zakir Arif
Muhammad Zakir Arif(Image: GMP)
A teenager who downloaded a video which glorified the Manchester Arena bomber told his family that he wanted to commit a terrorist attack.
Muhammad Zakir Arif, from Bury, told his mother and sister on WhatsApp that he hoped to travel abroad to commit an atrocity. They sought to ‘talk him down’ and maintained that his ‘rightful place’ was to remain as a ‘dutiful son’, Manchester Crown Court heard.
Arif, who refused to allow police access to his phone, has been locked up after cops managed to gain entry with the help of ‘partners in the United States’. His iCloud account was found to contain disturbing videos which give instructions on how to carry out terrorist attacks.
Another video was a ‘glorification’ of Salman Abedi, the terrorist who killed 22 innocent people at the Manchester Arena in May 2017, and he also had videos of the beheadings of Salford aid worker Alan Henning, American journalist James Foley, and another aid worker, Peter Kassig.
Arif, who was 17 and 18 at the time of the offences and is now 20, was sentenced to three years in prison after admitting four counts of possessing a document or record for terrorist purposes. He also admitted three counts involving the possession or use of prohibited mobile phones within prison.
Read the full story here: Teenager’s chilling words to police before WhatsApp messages discovered and US experts help cops crack iCloud account
John Phelps
John Phelps(Image: GMP)
A knifeman was jailed after producing a blade during a fracas outside a shop in Bolton.
John Phelps, 42, pulled out a Stanley knife after he was challenged by a member of the public and staff after he was caught trying to shoplift, Greater Manchester Police said.
A man was seen on CCTV running once realising that Phelps was armed. The incident happened in broad daylight on April 27 earlier this year, outside a shop on Tonge Moor Road.
Phelps has now been sentenced to two years in prison following a hearing at Bolton Crown Court.
Read the full story here: Terrifying moment would be thief pulls out knife after being challenged by staff
Stewart Knowles, left, and Andrew Lord
Stewart Knowles, left, and Andrew Lord(Image: GMP)
A former leader of the Boys’ Brigade carried out vile sexual abuse against a boy. Stewart Knowles has faced justice two decades on, as his victim bravely revealed the toll his ordeal has taken. The man, a teenager when he was abused in the 2000s, said he was left considering suicide.
Knowles, 62, was found guilty of 18 counts of penetrative and non-penetrative sexual activity with a boy between the ages of 13 and 15 years, Greater Manchester Police said. He was Captain of the Boys’ Brigade in Wigan, when his victim was a member of the Christian youth organisation.
Knowles was jailed for 16 years. Another man, Andrew Lord, also 62, was found guilty of four counts of penetrative sexual activity.
Lord was invited to abuse the boy with Knowles in the store cupboard of a school in Wigan. Lord not connected with the Boy’s Brigade. He was sentenced to seven years.
In an impact statement, the victim said: “I am providing this statement to explain the impact that the sexual abuse I experienced as a child has had on my life.
Read the full story here: Victim of ex-leader of Boys’ Brigade and co-defendant delivers powerful statement