Labour now step in for glory after they originally denied these incidents and called the BNP for using 'scaremongering tactics'.
A TEENAGE girl has been forced to leave Huddersfield – to get away from sexual predators.
And relatives claim the life of the 15-year-old has been ruined as a result of child grooming.
The vulnerable young Huddersfield girl has been moved to safety after falling prey to groomers who gave her drugs and used her for sexual purposes.
A charity stepped in to support the girl and her family but support workers at Crop, the Coalition for the Removal of Pimping, say they fear more girls are being targeted.
A relative of the young girl has now spoken about the ordeal the teenager and her family have been through.
The Huddersfield woman said: “It has been a traumatic ordeal.
“She was in so much danger, we just didn’t know what to do.
“It was such a gradual thing. It start- ed that she didn’t come home and was staying out, then she became abusive.
“We wondered if it was just something teenagers went through, but it became so much more.
“I once picked her up at 5am and her clothes were covered in blood.”
The girl confided in a family member that she was having sexual relations with what she called ‘dirty old men’ and that she was given drugs by them.
The family turned to their GP, the girl’s school, police and social services for support before contacting Crop.
The relative added: “Crop have been fantastic and have given us so much advice and support. They really pushed everything through.
“We were all distraught. We still are, but we want people to know this is happening on our doorstep.
“If anyone else is going through this they need to stop it now. Get in touch with Crop – they are experienced and know what to do. I just feel that we need to make a stand against this now.”
Sarah Lloyd, a parent support worker at Crop, said early intervention was essential.
She said: “It is a very common problem that is happening not only in Huddersfield but in a lot of other areas.
“My experience in Huddersfield with the police has been great, but my experience of social services is unfortunately not so good.
“In one case they knew what was going on and they didn’t do what they should have done.”
Incidents have been occurring in Huddersfield, Dewsbury and Ravensthorpe.
Ms Lloyd said: “It is older males, which is a common situation around the country, as well as people from specific ethnic groups, who tend to be doing this.
“Gathering information about them is a really big job, but essential. There is only one missing persons officer in Kirklees police, who is doing her best, but we need more support.
“The victims are so vulnerable. They believe they love these men and the men love them in return, but they are still just children and don’t know they are being exploited.”
A Kirklees Council statement said: “The council is well aware of this matter and steps have been taken to protect the welfare of this young person.”
But Crop want more action on the issue in general before someone else becomes a victim.
They are working closely with the police and are asking MPs to back them.
MP Barry Sheerman is set to meet members of Crop today to discuss the issue.
He said: “It is dreadful what happens to the victims. Girls, and sometimes boys, as young as 13 are being targeted and they are very vulnerable.
“There should always be the very highest standard of support available to them.”
Mr Sheerman has contacted the Home Office and Beverley Hughes, Minister for Children, Young People and Families.
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