Seven men have been sentenced to a combined total of 174 years in prison after being found guilty of a string of sexual offences against two vulnerable girls in northern England. The convictions mark the latest chapter in the long-running grooming gang scandal that has rocked the country for more than two decades.
The case, which concluded earlier this year, involved 50 offences committed between 2001 and 2006. Among these were 30 counts of rape, highlighting the shocking scale of abuse the two victims endured. During the trial, it emerged that the girls, both of whom were already known to social services, were repeatedly exploited, passed around for sex, and discarded by the group.
Sentencing took place at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court, where the men received prison terms ranging from 12 to 35 years. Each had denied the charges, but the jury delivered unanimous guilty verdicts.
The issue of grooming gangs has remained a painful and divisive subject in Britain. A previous 2014 inquiry revealed that at least 1,400 children were sexually exploited in Rotherham, northern England, between 1997 and 2013. That report also found that most of the known perpetrators were of Pakistani heritage and noted that some local officials hesitated to address the problem fully for fear of being perceived as racist or disrupting community cohesion.
This latest case has reignited political debate, with national leaders under pressure to ensure justice for victims and accountability for systemic failures. Earlier this year, following renewed criticism, the government announced a national inquiry into grooming gangs and the thousands of girls they are believed to have abused across multiple towns and cities.
For the victims in this trial, the sentencing finally brings a measure of justice after years of silence and suffering. Campaigners say the case is further evidence of the need for stronger safeguards, more effective social services, and improved cooperation between authorities to prevent such exploitation from continuing.
The scandal continues to serve as a reminder of the devastating consequences of institutional failures and the importance of prioritising the protection of vulnerable children
