Jail for gang in canal death

A GANG of five robbers pushed a man into the Rochdale Canal in Manchester even after his protesting he could not swim, so he subsequently drowned.

The body of Simon Bass was later found in the waterway near Canal Street, with three of the gang jailed for 10 years for manslaughter and two committed to a young offenders institution, at Manchester Crown Court, Keith Gudgin tells us.

Robbery spree

The gang aged between 15 and 22, on a robbery spree had attacked Simon Bass and tried to rob him, but being unsuccessful pushed him into the waterway, though he repeatedly shouted he could not swim and would drown.

At the hearing two witnesses came forward and told that they heard him cry out twice that he could not swim, but the gang took no notice pushing him into the canal.

Four robberies and assaults

It was told that there had been four robberies and assaults on the Rochdale Nine towpath in the early hours of the 5th June last year.  And that the underpasses of the canal were frequented by homosexuals, who were targeted by robbers. knowing the victims would be unlikely to complain to the police.