A 'depraved' former radio DJ freed after spending 12 years behind bars for strangling a listener has been given a second life sentence after he went on to subject a schoolgirl to a 'terrifying' eight-hour hostage ordeal.
Paul Sharpe, now 56, was jailed for life in 2001 after murdering 28-year-old Sarah Widdup, who he seduced when she contacted his phone-in show.
But after being given parole in 2013 he went on to kidnap and launch a sex attack against a 15-year-old girl.
In May this year he waited for his victim before bundling her into his car, holding the frightened schoolgirl captive at knifepoint and tying her up.
Over the next eight hours he then drove around sexually assaulting her at multiple locations after developing sick fantasies about schoolgirls.
The terrified girl’s ordeal only ended when police traced Sharpe’s Ford Focus to a hotel car park the next morning and arrested him.
Jailing him to life with a minimum of eight years behind bars, a judge today described Sharpe as 'every parent’s worst nightmare' and someone with 'dark sexual desires'.
His teenage victim described her experience as the 'worst eight hours of my life' saying she had been convinced she would be raped and murdered.
Paul Sharpe subjected a 15-year-old to an eight-hour hostage ordeal during which he plied her with alcohol and sexually assaulted her
Beautician Sarah Widdup was murdered by Sharpe, who she had been dating, in October 2000
It comes after relatives of murder victim Ms Widdup told the Daily Mail that Sharpe should never have been released.
His teenage victim, who had been preparing for her exams, was walking home through Altrincham, Greater Manchester at around 7.15pm on May 18, 2026 when Sharpe targeted her.
Wearing a high-vis vest, he pretended to have legitimate business at a nearby house, but then walked across the road and grabbed the girl from behind.
Alaric Bassano, prosecuting, told Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester how Sharpe got his victim in a chokehold, told her he had a knife, and demanded she get into his car, which was fitted with drapes to prevent anyone seeing inside.
He also invented a story that she was being taken because her father 'owed someone money'.
Sharpe recorded part of the girl’s horrendous ordeal on his phone and she could be heard crying and in distress.
Sharpe, of Stockport, previously pleaded guilty to six offences including kidnapping, sexual assault and threats with a blade.
He murdered beautician Ms Widdup in 2000 after the beautician called his late-night show on Tower FM, in Bolton, Greater Manchester.
They arranged a dinner date and embarked on a passionate romance, but he 'flipped' and killed her when she tried to break it off.
The following day callous Sharpe picked up Ms Widdup's ten-year-old son from school and dropped him at a neighbour's home, before going on the run.
Sharpe handed himself into police four days later and was jailed for life with a minimum term of 11 years in March 2001.
Former radio DJ Paul Sharpe was jailed for life in 2001 for the murder of Ms Widdup
Freed killer who took schoolgirl hostage should never have been released, victim's family say
Demanding tougher punishments for killers after his latest offence, Ms Widdup's relative told the Daily Mail: 'If he'd been given the sentence he should have had, he would not have been out and he wouldn't have been able to carry out the attack.
'It will have a massive impact on the girl and on her family.
'What he did had a massive impact on us and devastated her son.
'If you take a life, you should serve life.'
Today Hannah Gee, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: 'Just over three months after kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl, convicted murderer Paul Sharpe begins his life prison sentence today.
'Sharpe subjected his victim to a terrifying ordeal, abducting her at knifepoint and holding her captive for eight hours, during which time he forced her to consume alcohol before sexually assaulting her.
'This was a harrowing experience for the victim and her family.
'I hope that with Sharpe now back behind bars, they can begin to move forward, knowing that their courage and support throughout the prosecution have helped ensure that this dangerous offender has been removed from our streets.'
A serious further offence review will now take place to understand how Sharpe was able to reoffend despite being monitored by probation staff, with the results shared with the girl's family.
Government figures show 26 per cent of criminals reoffended in 2022-23, an increase on the previous two years.
MPs have warned that the probation service in England and Wales is at the brink of collapse.
Ministers have set out a timetable that will see thousands of prisoners walk free – although murderers and other criminals serving life sentences will not be eligible.
After Sharpe admitted abducting the girl, a Ministry of Justice spokesman said: 'These crimes were horrific, and our thoughts remain with the victims and their loved ones.
'The offender is now rightly back in custody and we will take any necessary action identified in a serious further offence review which is underway.
'Decisions to release life-sentenced prisoners are made by the independent Parole Board and while fewer than 0.5% of those under Probation Service supervision commit serious further offences, we know they have a life-changing impact on victims and their loved ones.
'This Government is investing a record £700million into probation and community supervision and recruiting an extra 1,300 probation officers to protect the public.'