Arrests made in second Rochdale sex grooming scandal

Nine men have been arrested in a second sex grooming case uncovered by police who smashed the Rochdale child sex ring.

The men have been arrested by Greater Manchester Police on suspicion of sexually abusing the same girl.

The alleged victim is understood to be one of 47 girls questioned by police in relation to an earlier child sexual exploitation ring in the town.

The nine arrested in the latest inquiry are not thought to have known each other.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said the arrests were the result of an inquiry into the sexual exploitation of a teenage girl by men since 2005.

“In total nine men have been arrested aged between 24 and 38-years-old, on suspicion of sexual activity with a child,” he added.

“They have been bailed pending further enquiries.”

It comes just days after nine Asian men from Rochdale and Oldham were jailed over the sexual exploitation of girls as young as 13-years-old.

Five girls gave evidence during the trial of the abuse they suffered between 2008-2010. Detectives who investigated the case said they encountered 47 other girls who they believe were also the victim of sexual abuse.

The conclusion of the case this week has sparked a major debate about whether the crimes were racially motivated.

Judge Gerald Clifton, jailing the nine, suggested they had targeted their victims because they were ‘not of your community or religion’.

But police and political leaders denied the crimes were about race – saying the men had targeted their victims simply because they were vulnerable.

Following the trial Peter Fahy, chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, said it was likely more arrests would be made following the trial.

A file of evidence on the new arrests is expected to handed over to the Crown Prosecution Service within weeks.

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