16 hours ago
Grooming gang scandal survivor welcomes U-turn on national inquiry after giving up hope one would happen
GROOMING gang survivor Christina O'Connor has welcomed the U-turn on a national inquiry into the scandal.
Christina says she had given up hope of one and hopes it will now bring change.
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The 33-year-old, of Huddersfield, West Yorks, is a survivor of the biggest UK grooming gang scandal.
She was main prosecution witness in trials in which 11 men were convicted of 43 offences against her, including 22 of rape.
The gang got a total of 221 years' jail.
She said: 'Every day, I'm reminded about what happened.
'I want to put it behind me and move on, but I can't.
'My childhood was stolen and I'll never get it back.
'So much pain still remains.
'I haven't had the support I needed, and I don't think any of the girls did.
'We were just left to cope alone.'
She added: ' A national inquiry is a chance for the government to show that they support the victims, and accept the failures.
'There were so many mistakes by the very people who should have been looking after me.
I was locked up & raped in dingy flat for days by grooming gangs - only to find out one sicko was a POLICE officer who's never seen justice
'They must now be held to account.
'The damage done to me and to my family impacts me every day and I want those responsible to acknowledge this.
'Most importantly, a national inquiry is needed because the same mistakes are being made right now with other children.
'Lessons must be learned.'
