Rochdale: Two men convicted of sexually abusing boys in the 1980s and 90s

Det Con Andrea Richards paid tribute and thanked all the male survivors who came forward and shared their experiences.

“I want to make it clear that no male survivor should feel like they have to carry the shame or guilt in this situation, it doesn’t belong to them,” he added.

“I hope they all feel like they finally got justice.”

District Crown Prosecutor Wendy Chappell of CPS North West’s rape and serious sexual offenses unit said: “Marsh carried out a vile campaign of sexual abuse against children as young as nine, while Whitehead sexually abused a fourteen-year-old boy.

“They acted solely for their own personal gratification, with no thought for the life-changing trauma their abuse would cause.”

Assistant Chief Constable Steph Parker said the investigation was a “striking demonstration of how GMP has not allowed the passage of time to obstruct justice”.

Marsh, of Northenden, and Whitehead, of Atherton, will be sentenced on November 27.