Hundreds of my abusers are still out there, says victim as grooming inquiry launched

At the age of twelve, Penny fell victim to a grooming scheme orchestrated by several men of Pakistani heritage. She recounted to the BBC how these individuals initially won her trust through generous gifts. However, within weeks, their affection turned into violence. “I suffered severe cigarette burns that penetrated through my skin into the flesh,” Penny, who uses a pseudonym, explained. By the time she reached thirteen and a half, she had lost significant weight, weighing just six stone. “I endured daily abuse,” she added.

Penny described how the men systematically exploited her and other girls, selling them for sex to men from across the country. “You were given drugs and alcohol so you couldn’t tell what day it was,” she said. Despite some perpetrators being convicted for rape and trafficking, she insists “hundreds of men” who harmed her remain unpunished. “Many of those involved have never faced justice,” she noted. “I believe their sexual tendencies persist, and they’ll find ways to satisfy them again.”

Inquiry Terms of Reference

The inquiry’s scope, recently unveiled, will examine cases over the past three decades to identify recurring patterns of abuse. It promises to investigate all contributing factors, including cultural, ethnic, and religious influences. Local investigations will begin in Oldham, with additional areas to be announced within three months. The inquiry has a £65m budget and aims to complete its work by March 2029, with regular updates throughout the process.

“Children in England and Wales have endured and continue to face sexual abuse and exploitation. When they sought help, they were often dismissed or blamed,” said Baroness Longfield, chair of the Statutory Independent Inquiry. “This inquiry exists to challenge that reality. We will share findings as we progress, ensuring no institution can bury the truth.”

Baroness Longfield emphasized the inquiry’s commitment to uncovering uncomfortable truths. “We will follow the evidence wherever it leads,” she stated. “No predator will escape scrutiny.” Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood echoed this, calling the grooming gangs’ scandal “one of the darkest moments in our country’s history.” She highlighted the inquiry’s focus on ethnicity, religion, and institutional responses, ensuring “no hiding place for the predatory monsters who committed these vile crimes.”

Penny remains cautious, fearing the inquiry may not deliver the accountability she seeks. “I want justice for the failures that allowed this grooming and exploitation to persist,” she said. “Why was it systematically permitted for so long?” She also hopes the inquiry will confirm her belief that sexual grooming has been widespread for years. “We must understand these issues are real and ongoing,” she insisted. “This investigation needs to stop them from continuing.”

The inquiry was launched following recommendations from Baroness Casey’s 2025 national audit on group-based child sexual exploitation. With full powers to compel witnesses, it aims to shed light on the systemic failures that enabled abuse to thrive.