Plan to light shortcut once prowled by notorious pervert

DANGEROUS UNDERPASS TO BE RECLAIMED FOR PEDESTRIANS

- By ETHAN DAVIES

AS a group of councillors headed towards Cambridge Street underpass earlier this week, a pedestrian shouted a warning: “They're smoking crack, be careful.”

Right underneath Mancunian Way, this expanse of grass, trees and concrete is the fastest way from Hulme to the city centre.

But it also feels like it's the most dangerous.

CCTV blindspots, street lighting blocked out by branches and the roar of traffic all make this oasis of greenery feel like one of the last places you'd walk through in Manchester, let alone linger. Its reputation for danger was only worsened by a string of horrific sex attacks carried out by Robert Emmerson from November 2023 to April 2024.

"The attacker would lie in wait on the path," prosecutor Emma Kehoe said during his trial a year ago.