A 52 year old man from Heaton Chapel has been found guilty of a series of depraved and abhorrent offences against women, including rape, prostitution, slavery and sexual assault, many of which took place in his home where he set up secret cameras to watch his victims and film his disturbing behaviour.
Nicholas Moxham of Briarfield Road, was found guilty of the string of offences after 5-week trial at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court including six counts of Controlling prostitution for gain,three of requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour,six counts of rape,as well as Attempted rape, Assault by penetration and thirteen counts of Voyeurism
Moxham first came to the attention of the police in June and July 2020 when witnesses reported seeing someone called ‘Nick’ in the company of sex workers and often loitering near homeless shelters.
Over time, he recruited six women as sex workers, arranging for clients to visit his home and an address in Longsight, Manchester.
Many of these encounters were covertly filmed by Moxham using specialist equipment including secret cameras hidden in pens.
On several occasions, videos showed Moxham raping or sexually assaulting women, sometimes whilst they were unconscious.
During a warrant at his home on 17 August 2021, officers found a woman, described as ‘pale and malnourished’, under a duvet on his living room floor. Immediate safeguarding measures were put in place to protect her, and the investigation advanced to identify other victims.
During this raid, officers recovered computer hard drives, storage devices and spyhole cameras, despite Moxham’s attempt to dispose of the evidence by throwing a hard drive out of his bedroom window as police entered his house.
Detective Sergeant Lee Attenborough, of Stockport CID, said: “This is one of the most horrific and upsetting cases my team has ever had to deal with.
“Moxham is a controlling and predatory sex offender who thought he was untouchable, denying his horrendous crimes right to the very end, forcing his victims to go through the ordeal of a trial.
“He showed absolutely no regard for any of his victims, some of whom won’t even know they were targeted due to the calculated and covert methods he used to take advantage.
“His offending was well-planned and continued whilst he was under investigation, even boasting to one of his victims that he was too clever for police.
“His victims have been extremely brave, and I can only commend them for coming forward to give evidence against Moxham. I know this hasn’t been easy, but thanks to their courageous actions, Moxham is off our streets and will now face a considerable time behind bars.
