Police tell survivors 'you will be believed' as Rochdale abusers jailed
Seven jailed for 174 years as survivors speak out and encourage others to seek justice.
Two brave survivors of child sexual exploitation have spoken out after Greater Manchester Police (GMP) secured justice in a major investigation into historic abuse in Rochdale.
Seven men were sentenced today (1 October) at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court to a combined total of 174 years in prison for 50 offences committed between 2001 and 2006. The convictions follow a long-running investigation under Operation Lytton, which began in 2015.
One survivor, known as Girl B, said she can now “live my life” and knows “my voice matters because I was believed.”
Abused by three of the men as a teenager, ‘girl B’ wrote a victim impact statement that spoke of her lack of faith in the police before our specialist Child Sexual Exploitation Major Investigations Team (CSE MIT) approached her in 2021.
She urged other victims to come forward if they feel ready, saying: “Meeting someone who believed and understood everything meant I could trust for the first time. It is important to know that the team who have worked on my case have been amazing.
“I want these victims to know that if they feel ready to deal with that happened to them they shouldn’t wait, they should go to the CSE team because they will do a good job. It doesn’t matter how much time has gone by it is still possible to get justice.”
The second survivor, Girl A, who first came forward in 2015, said she wanted to protect future generations from the trauma she endured: “I knew I had to be brave and continue to tell my story of my abuse for myself to get justice and for the next generation.”
She also addressed criticism of the investigation’s length: “This case has been a big personal commitment for me it has taken a long time. I fully understand the reason why it has taken so long and it upsets me to read negative comments on social media in regards to the police taking their time. The public do not understand the lengths the police have had to go to with the information I have provided to them.”
GMP’s Child Sexual Exploitation Major Investigations Team (CSE MIT), which includes nearly 90 dedicated investigators, worked closely with the Crown Prosecution Service’s Organised Child Sexual Abuse Unit to build a comprehensive case. The victims were supported throughout by specialists at St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in Manchester.
Assistant Chief Constable Steph Parker, GMP’s lead for protecting vulnerable people, praised the survivors’ courage:
“They have both spoken of the lifelong trauma, shame, and humiliation they have felt because of the terrible abuse they suffered. However, it is their bravery and resilience that has led to seven more abusers being jailed.”
She added: “Let me be clear: time is no barrier to justice, and we are actively working with dozens of survivors on numerous investigations to ensure no offender gets away with this. When you are ready, we will listen and you will be believed.”
Helen Lomax, Assistant Directorate Manager of Saint Mary’s Centre and Safeplace Merseyside, highlighted the importance of accessible support: “We offer comprehensive and coordinated forensic, counselling and aftercare service to men, women and children… whether this has happened recently or in the past.”
She stressed that survivors can access help without involving police: “Saint Mary’s SARC is a completely independent NHS service… You can contact your nearest SARC 24 hours a day to book an appointment – just check the NHS website for more information.”
Deputy Mayor for Safer and Stronger Communities Kate Green also commended the survivors: “It is never too late for anyone affected by child sexual exploitation to seek justice and I hope the experience of these two women will help any more victims to come forward.”
With 12 men already convicted and 20 more facing trial, GMP says its work is far from over. The force continues to urge survivors to come forward when they feel ready, promising a victim-centred approach and unwavering commitment to justice.