Key Takeaways
- A grooming gang suspect, known as Offender J, escaped investigation due to police failings and went on to attempt to murder his wife.
- The suspect was allegedly involved in the gang-rape of 12-year-old Samantha Walker-Roberts in 2006, but may not face charges due to lack of forensic evidence.
- The case has been marred by a series of police failings, including the destruction of evidence and the failure to follow up on leads.
- A national inquiry into grooming gangs has been established, which will be chaired by former children’s commissioner Anne Longfield.
- The inquiry has been mired in controversy, with some survivors criticizing the government’s handling of the investigation.
Introduction to the Case
A grooming gang suspect who had escaped investigation because of a string of police failings went on to attempt to murder his wife, a Guardian investigation has revealed. The man, named only as Offender J in paperwork seen by the Guardian, is alleged to have taken part in the gang-rape of 12-year-old Samantha Walker-Roberts in Oldham, Greater Manchester, in 2006. Offender J tried to kill his wife in 2009, two years after he had been named by the ringleader, Shakil Chowdhury, as an alleged accomplice in Walker-Roberts’s abuse. However, Greater Manchester police failed to follow up on this and closed the case.
Police Failings
Dozens of items recovered from Chowdhury’s home, where Walker-Roberts says she was raped for hours by five men, were destroyed by officers or returned to Chowdhury. This destruction of evidence has been widely criticized, and an internal police inquiry concluded in 2014 that Offender J’s wife may have been spared his attack if forensic inquiries had been adequately conducted in Walker-Roberts’s case. A review of the remaining forensic evidence during this investigation linked two other girls to Chowdhury’s property, but they were interviewed and said they’d had sex with Chowdhury at his home when they were 16, and appear not to have made criminal complaints.
Consequences of Police Failings
The failure to investigate Offender J and the destruction of evidence have had severe consequences. Walker-Roberts has been left without closure, and the suspect was able to go on to attempt to murder his wife. The case has also highlighted the need for a national inquiry into grooming gangs, which will be chaired by former children’s commissioner Anne Longfield. The inquiry will look at abuse in England and Wales and will aim to provide answers and closure for survivors like Walker-Roberts.
National Inquiry into Grooming Gangs
The national inquiry into grooming gangs has been mired in controversy since it was announced in June. Four women quit a survivor advisory panel, saying they felt the government was manipulating them to expand the scope of the inquiry beyond street-based grooming gangs. They called for the resignation of the safeguarding minister, Jess Phillips, but five others, including Walker-Roberts, wrote to the prime minister, Keir Starmer, to support her. Longfield was selected to chair the investigation after the two previous frontrunners withdrew.
Support for Survivors
Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues are available from several organizations. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, or 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html.
Conclusion
The case of Samantha Walker-Roberts highlights the need for a thorough and effective investigation into grooming gangs. The police failings in this case have had severe consequences, and it is essential that lessons are learned to prevent similar cases from happening in the future. The national inquiry into grooming gangs is a crucial step towards providing answers and closure for survivors, and it is essential that it is conducted thoroughly and effectively.
