'They did not stand a chance': Rochdale sex-ring rape victims branded 'prostitutes' by social service staff

SEX RING: Nine men convicted for 77 years

By Dean Wilkins

Abused girls victimised in the Rochdale sex-ring trial ‘did not stand a chance’ after serious failings from authorities, claimed the town’s MP.

Simon Danczuk MP said the girls – who were as young as 13 – were referred to as prostitues by social service staff who were supposed to be looking after them.

And the MP said he would not stand for any cover-up in the investigations into the nine Asian men found guilty of grooming girls for sex.

Mr Danczuk said: "These vulnerable girls went to hell and back, both in terms of what they experienced at the hands of their abusers but also in terms of the court case that they had to go through.

"In terms of the abuse, they were repeatedly raped, passed amongst these perpetrators.

"They were abused continually and they were treated absolutely appallingly."

He added: "The girls were sometimes referred to as prostitutes by the perpetrators.

"What I think is interesting is that I was told they were also referred to as prostitutes by some of the social services staff. These girls did not stand a chance."

The gang men were sentenced to a total of 77 in jail last month after plying white girls as with drink and drugs so they could use them for sex.

Mr Danczuk said he was visited by two health workers involved in the case who complained about the way authorities handled the case.

He told MPs: "They said that social services managers believed these girls were making life choices, that's why they were seen as prostitutes."

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