Seven men have been found guilty of sexually exploiting two underage girls in Northern England.
The conviction came on Friday, June 13, 2025, following a chilling trial at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed that the offences occurred between 2001 and 2006.
The 50-count indictment included rape and indecency with a child.
The jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts after three weeks of deliberations.
Prosecutor Rossano Scamardella described the girls’ ordeal in harrowing detail.
He said the minors were “passed around for sex, abused, degraded and then discarded” by the group.
Both victims were known to social services during the time of the abuse.
Scamardella stated it was “no secret” that the girls were sleeping with older South Asian men.
The defendants had denied all charges throughout the proceedings.
However, they were convicted following damning testimonies and detailed evidence.
This trial marks the latest chapter in the UK’s long-running grooming gang scandals.
The issue reignited public fury earlier this year due to comments from Elon Musk.
The billionaire criticised Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s past handling of the scandal.
Musk accused Starmer, a former chief prosecutor, of failing to bring perpetrators to justice.
Starmer angrily denied the claims, calling them misleading and politically motivated.
The grooming gang scandal has haunted British politics for over a decade.
A 2014 inquiry revealed at least 1,400 children were exploited in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013.
Most of the known offenders were of Pakistani descent, sparking debates over race and community protection.
The report said local officials ignored early warnings to avoid being labelled racist.
This reluctance allowed predators to continue their abuse unchecked for years.
Similar grooming gang cases have emerged in Rochdale, Telford, Oxford, and other English towns.
Multiple criminal convictions and public inquiries have since followed.
Victims and campaigners continue to demand full accountability and institutional reform.
The convicted men will be sentenced later this year.
Authorities say the case underscores the need for better child protection and transparency.
Lawmakers have vowed to strengthen legal frameworks to prevent such abuse from recurring.
This latest verdict brings partial justice to survivors and a painful reminder of systemic failures.
Britain now faces mounting pressure to prevent future scandals and protect vulnerable children nationwide.