The Prime Minister visited Rochdale today to launch a new 'grooming gangs' taskforce he said would 'make a big difference' to tackling child abuse.
The shadow of child sexual exploitation has long hung over the town since nine men were convicted and jailed in 2012 for a catalogue of serious sex offences against vulnerable victims in Rochdale and Heywood. Shabir Ahmed, who was known as 'Daddy' in the gang, is still serving a 22-year jail term for rape.
A trial heard that girls as young as 12 were plied with alcohol and drugs and raped in rooms above takeaway shops, and ferried to different flats in taxis where cash was paid to use them.
