On-going nightmare in Rotherham UK: About 1,400 children were 'sexually exploited over 16-year period'

Report claims police and council agencies failed victims, some of whom were threatened with guns and gang-raped About 1,400 children were sexually exploited in Rotherham over a 16-year period, according to a report that concluded "it is hard to describe the appalling nature of the abuse that child victims suffered". The report on events in the town in South Yorkshire, between 1997 and 2013, found that in more than a third of these cases the youngsters were already known to child protection agencies. It said there had been "blatant" collective failures by the council's leadership. Council leader Roger Stone said: "Having considered the report, I believe it is only right that I, as leader, take responsibility on behalf of the council for the historic failings that are described so clearly in the report and it is my intention to do so.