Grooming gang survivor shares anguish over early release plans for perpetrators: ‘My justice was all for nothing’

A survivor of Rotherham grooming gangs has shared her anguish after receiving a letter warning that two of the men convicted of abusing her could be set for early release.

Speaking to GB News, Sarah Wilson said the justice she had secured was now “all for nothing” if the discharges under Labour’s measures to free up prison space went ahead.

The survivor had provided evidence that helped secure convictions against multiple offenders following a decade-long investigation by the National Crime Agency.

“I've gone through three criminal trials in the space of two years and successfully secured 125 years' justice,” she told The People’s Channel.

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“But now I feel like I'm having it all chucked back in my face, and it was all for nothing.”

Ms Wilson said she received a letter informing her that a final decision on whether two of the offenders will qualify for early release is expected in August.

“My heart absolutely sank. I've stopped eating, and I can't sleep. My mental health has taken a total dive.

“I just think it's totally unfair that this circus is allowed to carry on.”

The survivor warned the move would send a devastating message to victims across the country.

“It's like silencing survivors all over again,” she said.

“This doesn't just affect past survivors and present survivors, but this is also going to affect a whole wide range of future survivors, of future victims.

“We're never going to get rid of grooming. We just need to find ways where we can try and stamp it out as much as we can to protect future children.”

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Ms Wilson also questioned why dangerous sexual offenders were being considered for early release because of prison overcrowding.

“If that's the case, then why not release people who've done petty crimes?", she asked.

“Isn't that the safest option rather than letting some of the most dangerous predators back out onto our streets to further abuse children?

”She also expressed little confidence that licence conditions imposed on released offenders would protect victims.

"They don't abide by any conditions. They never will. They never have.

“The grooming gangs are so widespread. They have connections in every town, every city and every single village. You know, no one's safe.

“Their communities don't shun them. They don't isolate them. They're welcomed back in with open arms like nothing's happened.

“It's not fair on every single survivor."

A Ministry of Justice spokesman told GB News: “The grooming gang scandal was one of the darkest moments in Britain's history. That's why we launched an independent inquiry, toughened sentencing so these vile predators face longer sentences and have driven child sex offence convictions to record levels.

"But because this government is sending more of these vile offenders to prison, and after just 500 prison places were added under the last government, failing to act would mean prisons running out of space again, leaving police unable to make arrests and courts unable to send offenders to prison altogether.

"We are fixing that failure by building 14,000 prison places, with 3,200 already delivered.

“Offenders judged by a judge to be the most dangerous offenders are excluded, prison rule breakers can be locked up for longer, and those released remain subject to strict licence conditions.”

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