Convicted murderer pleads guilty to kidnapping girl, 15, at knifepoint in Altrincham and holding her hostage for eight hours
Paul Sharpe, 56, from Stockport, admitted six offences at Minshull Street Crown Court after police found the teenager in his car in a Knutsford hotel car park following extensive CCTV enquiries.
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A convicted murderer from Stockport has pleaded guilty to a string of offences after kidnapping a 15-year-old girl at knifepoint in Altrincham and holding her hostage for eight hours in his car.
Paul Sharpe, 56, from Portwood, pleaded guilty at Minshull Street Crown Court on Thursday (July 3) to six charges including kidnapping, sexual assault, sexual activity in the presence of a child and making threats with a bladed article.
The kidnapping took place at around 7.30pm on May 18 on Bradgate Road in Altrincham. The Crown Prosecution Service said Sharpe threatened the girl with a knife, put her in a headlock and forced her into his car, claiming her father owed him money.
What happened during the eight hours?
The CPS described the ordeal as "protracted" and "terrifying." Sharpe drove the victim to a car park at the airport and tied her wrists and ankles with a necktie. Throughout the evening he moved between different car parks, forced the girl to drink alcohol and sexually assaulted her.
The ordeal ended when police arrested Sharpe in a hotel car park in Knutsford in the early hours of May 19, some eight hours after the girl was taken. She had been reported missing by her mother, and detectives used extensive CCTV enquiries to identify his car.
What did Sharpe say in interview?
The CPS said: "In interview, Sharpe claimed that he had been feeling bad and so he kidnapped the girl thinking it would be easier than kidnapping an adult. He said he wasn't thinking clearly and his intention was to release her when it was light, then end his own life."
What has the CPS said?
Senior prosecutor Hannah Gee said: "Paul Sharpe, a convicted murderer, kidnapped an innocent girl at knifepoint in broad daylight. In this terrifying incident, the victim was held captive for eight hours while Sharpe forced her to drink alcohol and sexually assaulted her."
She added: "Although his guilty pleas today have spared her from the ordeal of a trial, I would like to thank the girl, and her family, for supporting this prosecution and ensuring this dangerous offender is back where he belongs."
Sharpe will be sentenced at Minshull Street Crown Court on September 4.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who pleaded guilty to the kidnapping?
- Paul Sharpe, a 56-year-old convicted murderer from Portwood, Stockport, pleaded guilty to six offences including kidnapping and sexual assault.
- Where did the kidnapping take place?
- The 15-year-old victim was abducted at knifepoint on Bradgate Road in Altrincham on the evening of 18 May before being driven to various car parks.
- When will Paul Sharpe be sentenced?
- He is scheduled to be sentenced at Minshull Street Crown Court on 4 September 2026.