Council’s report says Bellfield’s grooming gang never caught
Levi Bellfield is serving time for three murders THE man who murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler was part of a child sex gang whose other members are still on the loose, a council report warns.
Levi Bellfield and his pals are said to have preyed on underage girls, allegedly luring at least one to a “raping room” in his flat. In a report handed to police, a senior social worker said the serial killer, who is currently serving two whole-life tariffs, was part of a group which targeted at least 17 vulnerable girls.
Debbie Weissang warns that six other men pose a “serious threat” to children, it was reported yesterday.
Weissang, previously child sexual exploitation manager at Hillingdon Council in West London, claims the seven gang members targeted under 16s who were often from children’s homes.
She said: ”Young children from children’s homes have been groomed and sexually exploited by Bellfield’s gang.
“Some of those people have currently got away with it.” Her report concerns allegations from 2000 onwards.
Weissang added: “There are six other men in my report who are not serving full-life tariffs in prison and in my opinion pose a serious threat to children.
“I am deeply concerned there remains a risk to children both in the community and online from Bellfield’s associates.
“The men of interest have conditioned themselves to believe they have done nothing wrong and are untouchable.”
Bellfield, 50, allegedly spiked girls’ HUGE CASE Colin Sutton
drinks with date-rape drugs, before assaulting them. One 14-year-old girl is said to have been taken to a flat he used in Hanworth, West London, nicknamed the “raping room” by gang members.
Other men named in the report include Victor Kelly, who was convicted of offering a 12-year-old drugs for sex in 2005, and Suraj Gharu, who was jailed for five years for sleeping with a 14-yearold children’s home resident.
Former doorman Bellfield, now known as Yusuf Rahim, was sentenced to life in 2008 for murdering Amelie Delagrange, 22, and Marsha McDonnell, 19, and attempting to murder Kate Sheedy, 18.
He was later convicted of the 2002 murder of Milly Dowler, 13. He has previously been linked to numerous rapes, but never convicted of any sex offences.
Former Chief Insp Colin Sutton, who investigated Bellfield, said of the report: “There is new information in there that my investigation was not aware of. I think the police and council should be taking it very seriously indeed.”
A Hillingdon Council spokesman said: “The information was carefully reviewed by Hillingdon Council’s head of safeguarding, in partnership with the Metropolitan Police.
“Hillingdon Council’s children’s social care team conducted numerous safeguarding checks.” The Met said: “Any allegations of child sexual exploitation contained in the report will be assessed and be investigated where appropriate’.”