Oldham criminals sentenced last month for their crimes

From a disgraced former police officer to a rioter, here are some of the Oldham criminals to have been punished for their awful crimes last month.

Police officer sexually assaulted girl while on duty

A former Oldham police officer sexually assaulted a young girl while he was responding to an incident has been jailed for his heinous crimes.

Dean Dempster, 35, responded to an incident in December last year, and while upstairs with a young girl while other officers remained downstairs, he turned his body-worn camera off and sexually assaulted the young girl, even taking a picture during the incident with his phone.

He was arrested after the girl told her family what had happened, before an examination of his phone and a search of his home revealed his "unhealthy sexual interest in children", with items and images being discovered.

Dean Dempster was sacked earlier this year (Image: GMP)

Dempster's horrific act led to an "significant impact on community confidence" in policing as tensions rose.

At Liverpool Crown Court on November 13, Dempster was handed an extended sentence of 14 years, of which he must serve at least nine years before he can serve the remainder on licence.

He was also handed an extended licence period of five years and has been issued a lifelong sexual harm prevention order.

Rioter threw brick at bus driver

A man who took part in "mindless violence" when people rioted outside a Manchester hotel has been jailed.

Jack Cregan, 33, took part in the violent disorder on Oldham Road, Newton Heath on July 31 this year, which took place outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in the wake of the Southport stabbings.

Jack Cregan (Image: GMP)

Video footage played in court showed Cregan, of Argyll Close, Failsworth, throwing a brick at a bus driver, who required hospital treatment and was left traumatised by the ordeal.

Sentencing Cregan to 30 months in prison, Judge Patrick Field KC called the defendant's behaviour "deplorable and unacceptable".

Man drove cherry picker through Oldham while drunk

A man who took a cherry picker without consent and the drove it in Oldham while drunk has been sentenced.

Liam Merritt, of Glenridding Close, Higginshaw, took the cherry picker without permission on March 27 and drove it through Chadderton.

Footage of the incident was shared online (Image: Mabrur Alam/Facebook)

When stopped by police, Merritt, 38, was found to be over the drink driving limit with 70 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath in his system, when the legal limit is 35 micrograms, placing him twice over the limit.

Merritt was also found to be in possession of cocaine and he assaulted a male police officer.

He was handed a 12 week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and was ordered to attend 15 days of rehabilitation activity requirement and to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work, as well as being ordered to pay costs.