Hell of tragic Victoria, 15, was ignored

The report states: “Authorities knew many were being subjected to the most profound abuse and exploitation but did not protect them.

“These were predominantly Asian men working in the restaurant industry; they enticed young girls in the care system and ultimately abused them.

“But concerns were expressed about the risk of proactive tactics or the incitement of racial hatred.”

Commissioned by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, the report was launched on the back of allegations made by ex-detective Maggie Oliver.

It was also sparked by GMP’s criticism over their fears of arresting Asian men in the separate Rochdale abuse scandal.

Yesterday GMP Chief Constable Ian Hopkins apologised to the victims and said he felt “personally disgusted” at the crimes.

He went on: “In August 2018 it became clear Augusta was not to standard and I immediately commissioned a review. Following (that) review, a multi-agency team was established with Manchester city council under Operation Green Jacket.

“To date Green Jacket has identified 53 potential victims; 48 were in care. This includes

THE DEATH of 15-year-old Victoria Agoglia in 2003 sparked a chain of events that led to yesterday’s grooming gang report.

Victoria had been in the care of Manchester City Council since the age of eight following the death of her mother.

Known as Vicky, she also used her stepfather’s surname of Byrne and dreamed of becoming a model.

But in the two years before her death, the report found Victoria was repeatedly “threatened, assaulted and returned to her residential unit intoxicated”.

The shocking report said she disclosed at the time she was involved in sexual exploitation and alleged rape and sexual assault.

The report added: “Although cared for by

Victoria Agoglia.” Joanne Roney, Manchester City Council chief executive, said: “This report makes for painful reading. Some of the social work 15 years ago fell far below the high standards we now expect.

“We are deeply sorry not enough was done to protect our children at the time – we are in a the council, a man identified as her ‘pimp’ was given permission to visit her in her accommodation three times a week.”

It said this relationship was known about by police and the council but appears to have been “condoned by social services” and no attempts were apparently made to find out exactly who the man was.

In March 2003, six months before her death, the man took her to the home of one of his relatives. She later reported that she had been raped but despite a medical examination, the abuse was allowed to continue.

Two months before her death, Victoria told her social worker and a substance

much better place.” The report looked at a sample of historic cases detailing rape and sexual abuse allegations made by girls that were not followed up.

It concludes each case with the same sentence: “We cannot offer any assurance this was appropriately addressed by GMP or Manchester City Council.” misuse worker that an older man was injecting her with heroin.

But the report says: “No formal action was taken to investigate this matter or prevent it occurring again.

“Within two months of this revelation, Victoria died.”

In 2004, Mohammed Yaqoob, 50, was cleared of her manslaughter but admitted twice injecting her with heroin. He was jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Of the few men convicted of grooming and abuse, nine from Rochdale, including ring leader Shabir Ahmed, 59, were jailed at Liverpool Crown Court in 2012 for a string of sex offences, including rape.

During the trial, Ahmed accused the white community of letting down the girls.

As a result “very few of the relevant perpetrators were brought to justice and neither were their activities disrupted”. This was despite “clear evidence” girls, aged 12 to 16, were being abused “generally by older Asian men”.

Police even had all the predators’ names, addresses and the flats above takeaways where

the abuse occurred. Mr Burnham said Victoria’s death “exposed a network of paedophiles brazenly abusing young people in care... appallingly left to reoffend”. He added there was now “a zero-tolerance approach to child sexual exploitation”.