A gang of 18 people has been found guilty of trafficking and sexually abusing vulnerable teenage girls and young women for several years in northern England, prosecutors said last 9 August, in the latest shocking case of its kind in Britain.
The men raped or assaulted the victims after drugging them or threatening them with violence at specially-convened "parties" – often referred to as "sessions" – where they were supplied with drugs and alcohol.
Some were so inebriated they were abused while unconscious.
The offenders were predominantly Asian and aged in their 30s and 40s, raising echoes of a number of similar cases in Britain which led to accusations the authorities had feared to get involved in case they were accused of racism.
"There has been no political correctness here," said Northumbria Police Chief Constable Steve Ashman. "These are criminals and there has been no hesitation in arresting them and targeting them using all the means at our disposal."
"It is for individual communities to ask themselves whether they are doing all they can to eradicate such attitudes and behaviour."
Prosecutors said the gang, 17 men and one woman, had targeted 13 white girls and women, aged from 15 to their early 20s, in the city of Newcastle in northwest England between 2010 and 2014. The offenders were found guilty following four trials, the last of which concluded on Tuesday.
Three have been jailed and the others are awaiting sentence.
The men raped or assaulted the victims after drugging them or threatening them with violence at specially-convened "parties" – often referred to as "sessions" – where they were supplied with drugs and alcohol.
Some were so inebriated they were abused while unconscious.
The offenders were predominantly Asian and aged in their 30s and 40s, raising echoes of a number of similar cases in Britain which led to accusations the authorities had feared to get involved in case they were accused of racism.
"There has been no political correctness here," said Northumbria Police Chief Constable Steve Ashman. "These are criminals and there has been no hesitation in arresting them and targeting them using all the means at our disposal."
"It is for individual communities to ask themselves whether they are doing all they can to eradicate such attitudes and behaviour."
Prosecutors said the gang, 17 men and one woman, had targeted 13 white girls and women, aged from 15 to their early 20s, in the city of Newcastle in northwest England between 2010 and 2014. The offenders were found guilty following four trials, the last of which concluded on Tuesday.
Three have been jailed and the others are awaiting sentence.