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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Oxford sex gang: Scores more victims identified | Oxford sex gang: Scores more victims identified |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Police in Oxford say 50 to 60 young women have been identified as potential victims of a paedophile ring operating for eight years in the city. | |
| Exactly a year ago, seven men were convicted of raping and trafficking six girls aged from 11 to 15 between 2004 and 2012. | Exactly a year ago, seven men were convicted of raping and trafficking six girls aged from 11 to 15 between 2004 and 2012. |
| The victims were groomed and subjected to sadistic sexual abuse. | The victims were groomed and subjected to sadistic sexual abuse. |
| Since then, Thames Valley Police has reviewed about 180 cases of vulnerable children potentially at risk. | |
| The investigation, which began in 2012, has heard from dozens of girls who were connected to the gang. | |
| The Kingfisher unit, which was set up by Thames Valley Police and Oxfordshire County Council in November 2012, also involves social services, health and education services. | The Kingfisher unit, which was set up by Thames Valley Police and Oxfordshire County Council in November 2012, also involves social services, health and education services. |
| Police 'concerns' | Police 'concerns' |
| In the past year, it has been involved in 20 criminal investigations and has served 40 abduction notices. | In the past year, it has been involved in 20 criminal investigations and has served 40 abduction notices. |
| An abduction notice can be served if police receive a complaint that a man is hanging around with a young teenager. If he is spotted with the girl again, he can be arrested for abduction. | An abduction notice can be served if police receive a complaint that a man is hanging around with a young teenager. If he is spotted with the girl again, he can be arrested for abduction. |
| Det Supt Joe Kidman, senior investigating officer for operation Bullfinch, said: "We've had a number of young women come forward and give us very important accounts. | Det Supt Joe Kidman, senior investigating officer for operation Bullfinch, said: "We've had a number of young women come forward and give us very important accounts. |
| "We've also identified people we wanted to speak to and they've also given us very significant accounts. | "We've also identified people we wanted to speak to and they've also given us very significant accounts. |
| "I would say that the figure is of around 50 to 60 young women that we have our concerns about. | "I would say that the figure is of around 50 to 60 young women that we have our concerns about. |
| "They may well be in a much better position now, but we consider they could have been victims." | "They may well be in a much better position now, but we consider they could have been victims." |
| Victims sold | Victims sold |
| Last year's trial at the Old Bailey heard how six girls were plied with alcohol and drugs before being forced to perform sex acts. Some were beaten and burned. | Last year's trial at the Old Bailey heard how six girls were plied with alcohol and drugs before being forced to perform sex acts. Some were beaten and burned. |
| The court heard how the men - two of east African origin and five of Pakistani origin - identified vulnerable girls for abuse and then groomed each one of them until they were under the control of the gang. | The court heard how the men - two of east African origin and five of Pakistani origin - identified vulnerable girls for abuse and then groomed each one of them until they were under the control of the gang. |
| They were then each either abused by the men themselves, given to the men's friends or offered at a price to others who were not on trial. | They were then each either abused by the men themselves, given to the men's friends or offered at a price to others who were not on trial. |
| The girls were mostly chosen because their unsettled or troubled lives made them easier to manipulate. | The girls were mostly chosen because their unsettled or troubled lives made them easier to manipulate. |
| After the case concluded, social services and the police apologised for not acting sooner. | After the case concluded, social services and the police apologised for not acting sooner. |