Five-year sentence for ‘terrifying’ Glossop robbery

A robber who dragged a vulnerable man down an alleyway before stealing from him has been jailed for five years.

The victim, a man in his 40s, was out in Glossop when he was approached by a stranger at around 11.30pm on Friday 28th November 2025. 

The offender then dragged him into an alleyway beside the Empire Bar on High Street West, pinned him against a wall, took his bag and pushed him to the ground. 

Police and paramedics were called to the scene. Officers quickly located a suspect nearby and arrested him. 

Following an analysis of CCTV footage, officers circulated an image of the suspect among colleagues, who identified him as Leslie Thorley. 

Thorley, 47, formerly of Wellington Road North, Heaton Chapel, Stockport, gave a no-comment interview. However, the weight of evidence against him led to him being charged with robbery. 

In a victim personal statement read to the court, the man’s mother said her son is now “terrified of going out on his own”. 

She added: “He has told me that he relives what happened to him every time he wakes up.” 

Thorley pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years in prison at Manchester Crown Court on Thursday 26th February. 

Detective Sergeant Jesse Conquest, of the Neighbourhood Acquisitive Crime Team, said: “This was a terrifying attack that has had a long-lasting effect on the victim. 

“I would like to publicly thank the victim, his mum and our investigating officers for their efforts in bringing Thorley to justice. 

“He knew exactly what he was doing by targeting a vulnerable person, and we are pleased that he has been taken off our streets for a considerable amount of time.”