European probe caught men who groomed teen
ACHILD grooming gang who treated a Glasgow schoolgirl as a “sex object” with rape and abuse was brought to justice after a four-year police investigation.
Detectives also issued a European Arrest Warrant to extradite two of the “despicable” child rapists from Latvia.
On Wednesday, four men were convicted of grooming and sexually abusing the 15-year-old girl at locations across the city in 2015.
Aivars Hauberts, 21, Ailands Aleksanders, 22, and Ludvigs Rudevics, 35, were found guilty at the High Court of raping the youngster, while co-accused Hardis Gindra, 27, was convicted of having underage sex with the teen five years ago. All four are originally from the eastern European nation.
Detectives say the men exploited the schoolgirl with gifts, drugs and alcohol before raping and abusing her on different occasions after meeting the men in March 2015.
The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is now 19.
Following an extensive police investigation, Aleksanders and Gindra were arrested and charged in 2015. The investigation continued and a European Arrest Warrant was issued for Rudevics and Hauberts. The pair were traced and arrested in Latvia and extradited to Scotland last year.
Detective Inspector Christopher Nisbet, senior investigating officer for this case, said: “A huge amount of credit and praise must be given to the victim who bravely came forward and spoke to the police.
“We spent a lot of time with her to build this case and the conviction could not have been achieved without her courage.
“People who are involved in the sexual exploitation of children prey on vulnerabilities and use a number of tactics to groom their victim. It’s a despicable crime.
“I must also praise the work of social services at Renfrewshire Council who worked alongside us to help the victim move on with her life, which she has managed to do.
All four men, who denied the charges against them, were placed on the sex offenders’ register.
They are due to be sentenced on March 17.