Murderer kidnapped and sexually assaulted 15-year-old at knifepoint in terrifying eight-hour hostage ordeal

Published: 09:11, 5 July 2026 | Updated: 09:14, 5 July 2026 A murderer who abducted a 15-year-old girl at knifepoint while she walked alone and held her hostage for eight hours in his car has pleaded guilty to kidnapping and sexual assault. Paul Sharpe, 56, subjected the girl to a 'protracted' and 'terrifying' ordeal as he tied up her wrists and feet with a necktie and masturbated. Sharpe had threatened the girl with a knife at around 7.30pm on May 18 on Bradgate Road in Bowden, a suburb of Altrincham, Greater Manchester, before putting her in a headlock and forcing her into his car. Claiming that her father owed him money, he drove them to an airport car park before tying her up. During the evening Sharpe drove to different car parks, forcing the girl to drink alcohol and sexually assaulting her. At one point he masturbated while touching the victim's feet. The kidnapping was only stopped some eight hours in, after the girl's mother reported her missing at 9pm and police reviewed CCTV to identify Sharpe's car. Officers found the pair in the car park of Cottons Hotel and Spa in Knutsford, Cheshire, in the early hours of May 19. Paul Sharpe subjected a 15-year-old to an eight-hour hostage ordeal during which he made her drink alcohol and masturbated while touching her feet He kidnapped the girl on Bradgate Road in Bowden, a suburb of Altrincham, Greater Manchester, as she walked alone The Crown Prosecution Service said Sharpe had claimed in an interview that he 'had been feeling bad' and '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,' a CPS spokesman added. Sharpe 'claimed his motives weren't sexual but admitted being aroused by smelling her feet'. It was previously reported the abduction was 'random' and the girl was not known to her kidnapper. On Friday Sharpe pleaded guilty at Minshull Street Crown Court to six offences including kidnapping, sexual assault, sexual activity in the presence of a child and making threats with a bladed article. He also admitted to committing an offence with intent to commit a sexual offence and administering a noxious thing 'with intent to injure, aggrieve or annoy'. Hannah Gee, senior prosecutor for the CPS, 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. 'Sharpe gave no thought to the impact his actions, for his own depraved reasons, would have on his victim. '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. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.