Four women have publicly shared their experiences of being sexually exploited by drug gangs as teenagers, detailing how they were targeted and manipulated into abusive relationships. The women, who have waived their anonymity for a BBC documentary titled 'Britain's Forgotten Girls,' described patterns of abuse that, while differing in specific details, shared striking similarities.
According to their accounts, boys and older men connected to drug gangs targeted them during their youth. The women reported being manipulated into exploitative relationships and subsequently subjected to repeated sexual abuse.
All four individuals expressed a belief that authorities failed to protect them and did not take their allegations seriously. Front-line social workers and experts in the field suggest that the sexual and criminal exploitation of girls by drug gangs has often been overshadowed in public discourse by a greater focus on sexual grooming gangs.
This story contains details of sexual exploitation. Information and support for those affected by the issues raised can be found at the BBC's Action Line.