‘Nobody expects it to happen here’

BEHIND closed curtains lay a sordid sex ring used by perverts preying on vulnerable young girls and young women.

Designated homes across the West End of Newcastle hid horrifying secrets from unaware neighbours.

The girls were lured to parties, known as “sessions”, where they were plied with drugs and alcohol in return for sex as the twisted beasts took advantage of them.

Groups of men have now been convicted of offences against the girls – at least one of whom had learning difficulties – as part of an investigation centred on the West End, which became known as ‘Operation Shelter, which forms part of Northumbria Police’s Operation Sanctuary.

Officers honed in on houses in Farndale Road, Northcote Street, Strathmore Crescent, Philip Place and Belle Grove West and found a sinister set of evidence.

And now neighbours have told of their horror after discovering the murky goings on happening under their noses.

Diane Covell, 41, of Philip Place, said: “I saw it when the police raided the homes. I saw men from different ethnic origins going in and out of there all the time. It was virtually every day, I saw the same faces going in and out of that house. It was horrifying.

“I didn’t know what was going on at the time but I saw the police pull a bra from out of the bins and they took a mattress away.

“I have three sons and a daughter and this has made me worried about her. She’s 15 and it brings it home to you when things like this happens. It was happening right on our doorstep and we didn’t know. It’s awful.”

A neighbour near the house used for the sex ring on Belle Grove West, in Spital Tongues, said: “It was horrifying, people don’t realise what goes on, you don’t expect it to happen here, but it was. You heard a lot of noise from that house but I live just far enough away not to see who was going in and out.

“The police were there constantly but finally they got caught. It’s horrific for the