Child sex ring victim 'was passed between 60 men' and believed abuse was 'normal'

Jurors heard the two abused girls came from troubled backgrounds and wanted to feel 'grown up' when they were taken in by the men

Monday 18 May 2015 19:23 BST

Eleven men are on trial at the Old Bailey, accused of committing sexual offences (Getty)

Members of an alleged child sex ring abused two schoolgirls, taking advantage of their vulnerability on a “massive scale” to the extent that they believed what was happening to them was “normal”, a court has heard.

One girl, who was aged 12 or 13 at the time, alleges that throughout the period she was abused, she was passed between 60 men who had sex with her.

Eleven men are on trial, accused of committing sexual offences. Jurors at the Old Bailey heard how both girls came from troubled backgrounds and wanted to feel “grown up” when they were taken in by the men. The defendants deny a total of 49 offences said to have been committed between 2006 and 2012.

They included the multiple rape of a child under 13, child prostitution and administering a substance to “stupefy” a girl in order to engage in sexual activity.

The trial of the eleven men, taking place at the Old Bailey, “concerns child sexual exploitation on a massive scale” (Getty) (Getty Images)

In all, 45 charges relate to one child who cannot be identified for legal reasons and is known as “A”, and four against a second girl, referred to as “B”.

Opening the case, Oliver Saxby QC, for the prosecution, said: “This case concerns child sexual exploitation on a massive scale. It features two young girls who were employed and sexually abused from the age of 12 or 13.”

He continued: “Both girls were from unstable backgrounds, making perfect targets. They were looking for excitement, for attention. For somewhere to hang out, away from school and home.

“They were wanting to feel grown up. And looked after. And they were easy prey for a group of men wanting casual sexual gratification.”

Jurors were told that both girls were befriended and showered with gifts such as alcohol, DVDs, food, and occasionally drugs.

Mr Saxby said: “They were being conditioned, exploited. Their trust was being established. And then they were sexually abused.”

In pictures: White Flowers Campaign to support child abuse victims

Show all 10

1/10In pictures: White Flowers Campaign to support child abuse victims

In pictures: White Flowers Campaign to support child abuse victims

White Flowers Campaign

A campaigner holds a banner at Old Palace Yard in Westminster, during an event organised by the White Flowers Campaign Group, in commemoration of victims and survivors of child abuse

In pictures: White Flowers Campaign to support child abuse victims

White Flowers Campaign

Pictures, messages and floral tributes left at Old Palace Yard in Westminster, organised by the WhiteFlowers Campaign Group in commemoration of victims and survivors of child abuse

In pictures: White Flowers Campaign to support child abuse victims

White Flowers Campaign

Jenny Tomlin, the mother of Martine McCutcheon, attends a gathering at Old Palace Yard in Westminster, organised by the White Flowers Campaign Group, to lay white flowers in commemoration of victims and survivors of child abuse

In pictures: White Flowers Campaign to support child abuse victims

White Flowers Campaign

Child abuse campaigner Bill Maloney speaks to relatives, supporters, victims and survivors of abuse as they gather at Old Palace Yard in Westminster to lay white flowers in commemoration of victims and survivors of child abuse

In pictures: White Flowers Campaign to support child abuse victims

White Flowers Campaign

Rotherham MP Sarah Champion speaks during a gathering at Old Palace Yard in Westminster, organised by the WhiteFlowers Campaign Group, to lay white flowers in commemoration of victims and survivors of child abuse

In pictures: White Flowers Campaign to support child abuse victims

White Flowers Campaign

Simon Danczuk MP speaks during a gathering at Old Palace Yard in Westminster, organised by the WhiteFlowers Campaign Group, to lay white flowers in commemoration of victims and survivors of child abuse

In pictures: White Flowers Campaign to support child abuse victims

White Flowers Campaign

John Mann MP attends a gathering at Old Palace Yard in Westminster, organised by the WhiteFlowers Campaign Group, to lay white flowers in commemoration of victims and survivors of child abuse

In pictures: White Flowers Campaign to support child abuse victims

White Flowers Campaign

A woman leaves a floral tribute at Old Palace Yard in Westminster

In pictures: White Flowers Campaign to support child abuse victims

White Flowers Campaign

Relatives, supporters and survivors of abuse hold a minutes silence during a gathering at Old Palace Yard in Westminster, organised by the WhiteFlowers Campaign Group, in commemoration of victims and survivors of child abuse

In pictures: White Flowers Campaign to support child abuse victims

White Flowers Campaign

Jenny Tomlin, the mother of Martine McCutcheon (left) supports Esther Grace of Cardiff, a victim and survivor of abuse, during a gathering at Old Palace Yard in Westminster, organised by the WhiteFlowers Campaign Group, to lay white flowers in commemoration of victims and survivors of child abuse

He added that at the time the girls’ ideas of what was right had been “completely distorted”, and that they thought what was happening was “normal” and “natural”.

“They spoke in terms of these men being their boyfriends. And they were passed from man to man – sometimes on a daily basis.

“The scale of it is... horrifying. ‘A’ estimated that she had sex with about 60 men, almost all Asian.”

The 11 men on trial are accused of being among the men who abused the schoolgirls. They lived in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, where the abuse occurred, and some were friends, the jury heard.

The court was also told that some of the men were married and had children, with some working in the market and a few working as taxi drivers.

The trial continues.