A man who raped an 11-year-old boy in the toilets of a shopping centre in Manchester has been jailed for life.
John Ferrier, 69, of Ormskirk Road, Wigan, was found guilty of rape at Manchester Crown Court after already admitting possessing what police called a bladed article.
Police said he approached the boy in the toilets at the Arndale shopping centre on 18 October last year, asking him to enter the cubicle with him.
Ferrier attacked the boy at Manchester's Arndale centre last year
When the boy refused Ferrier dragged him inside and assaulted him.
The victim then fled and told a member of the public before speaking to a security guard, who detained Ferrier until police arrived.
The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, ran away after seeing Ferrier, but was traced three days later when he told police officers visiting his school about the incident.
Ferrier was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of eight years.
Detective Constable Simon France, from the Serious Sexual Offences Unit, said: "I would like to commend the victim, who with the support of his family and specially trained officers, had the courage to come forward and tell police what happened to him.
"He is a young boy who has had a terrifying ordeal and it was not easy for him to admit what had happened.
"With his support we have been able to bring Ferrier before the courts and he will now spend a substantial period of time in prison.
"I would also like to thank members of the public and the staff at Manchester Arndale as it was due to their quick actions that meant a dangerous man was stopped and arrested at the scene."