Eight men were found guilty of sexually abusing a young girl in Bolton over a two-year period, using drugs and alcohol to exploit her vulnerability.
Eight members of a grooming gang have been convicted of sex offences against an underage girl at a 'party house' in Bolton . The defendants were convicted following a three-month-long trial at Liverpool Crown Court. Four of the men were convicted of rape or attempted rape, and all were found guilty of sexual activity with the girl over a two-year period when she was aged between 13 and 15.
The jury heard the offences happened at different locations, but mainly at 'a party house' in Bolton, where drugs and drink were consumed. They introduced the girl, described as 'young, naïve, and impressionable', to cocaine and cannabis. Ben Lawrence, prosecuting, told the court: 'She was groomed. As part of the grooming, and to lessen any objections, she was plied with alcohol, cannabis, and cocaine. At various times she considered herself to be in a relationship with a number of the defendants. However, the feeling wasn't mutual.' He said the defendants were part of 'a malign friendship group, which sought to prey on her once it became clear that another man had been able to have sex with her repeatedly'. Cory Barrett, 24, (08/10/00) of Wigan, was convicted of five rapes; and one offence of sexual assault by penetration. He was found not guilty of attempted sexual assault by penetration; and attempted sexual activity with a child. Jack Poulson, 31, (25/04/1993), of Bolton, was found guilty of two rapes; five counts of sexual activity with a child; one count of causing a person to engage in sexual activity; one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity; and one count of sexual communications with a child. He was found not guilty of two counts of rape. Richard Oliver Haslam, 35, (16/02/1989), of Bolton, was convicted of three rape offences; two of sexual activity with a child; and one of causing a child to engage in sexual activity. Daniel Flatters, 34, (13/05/1990), of Bolton, was found guilty of four offences of sexual activity with a child. Brandon Jacob Harwood, 25, (20/09/1999), of Bolton, was found guilty of attempted rape; and sexual activity with a child. He was found not guilty of one count of attempted rape; and two other counts of attempted sexual activity with a child. Elliott Turner, 26, (05/06/1988), of Bolton, was convicted of two counts of sexual activity with a child; and found not guilty of one count of rape. James Lee Fitzgerald, 36, (DOB 05/06/1988) of Bolton, was convicted of one offence of sexual assault by penetration. Harvie Aspen, 25, (DOB 11/12/1999), of Radcliffe, Bury was found guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a child; and not guilty of one count of the same charge. All the defendants were remanded in custody to face sentencing at a date yet to be fixed
GROOMING GANG SEX OFFENCES UNDERAGE GIRL BOLTON RAPE ABUSE DRUGS ALCOHOL SENTENCING
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Three members of grooming gang jailed for raping teenage girls in the 1990sThe teenage victims were dismissed by authorities at the time.
Read more »
West Yorkshire Grooming Gang Members JailedEight men have been jailed for their involvement in a West Yorkshire grooming gang that targeted young girls in the late 1990s. Three men were sentenced for rape at Bradford Crown Court on Friday, while five others were jailed last year. The case involved a young girl who was aged between 13 and 14 at the time of the offences. She said she was 'groomed', then 'passed on to other men', and later became addicted to alcohol and drugs. The judge criticized the police and social services for failing to adequately respond to the girl's mother's reports.
Read more »
Grooming gang members sentenced for rape - as police hunt two believed to have fled the countryA judge said the criminal justice system must 'do all it can to protect young and vulnerable members of our community' and that he hoped the girls would find it a 'comfort to know that their voices, at long last, have been heard'.
Read more »
Seven members of 'depraved' Glasgow grooming gang jailed for lifeThe two women and five men were all convicted of gang raping a child and abusing other children under the age of 13 at a Glasgow drugs den.
Read more »
Labour MP breaks ranks with Starmer to call for national grooming gang inquiryDan Carden, a Labour MP, has become the first to defy Sir Keir Starmer's stance and call for a fresh national inquiry into grooming gangs. This comes amid growing pressure on the Labour leader following Elon Musk's criticism and demands from other parties for a wider investigation.
Read more »
The council bosses who failed victims of the Rotherham grooming gang: How senior leaders have...The independent inquiry into child sexual exploitation condemned senior officials who 'underplayed' the scale of the 'appalling' abuse against girls as young as 11.
Read more »