Child Rape Investigation -

Man, 19, arrested in connection with investigation


Police praise 'bravery' of 20 victims who came forward

All victims, aged between 12 and 15, knew offenders

Police investigate whether children were groomed on web

Letters sent to 16,000 schools



A major police investigation is underway into a child exploitation ring targeting children as young as 12, it emerged today.

Detectives have taken the extraordinary step of writing to more than 16,000 parents of secondary school pupils in south Devon to alert them to the investigation.

The inquiry is believed to centre on young men who are sexually exploiting youngsters - mostly girls but some boys - aged between 12 and 15.

Probe: Detective Inspector Simon Snell (second left), who is leading the investigation, speaks during a press conference today outlining the alleged abuse on school children that has been uncovered in Devon

A 19-year-old man has been arrested and was yesterday being questioned on charges relating to 'child exploitation'.

Officers have already identified 20 victims in the Torbay area but believe there could be many more and have appealed for others to come forward.

The offences range from sexual assault to rape and may go back many years, according to Devon and Cornwall Police.

Detectives are investigating whether the victims - who were known to their abusers - were targeted on social networking sites.

But they stressed the children were not snatched off the street by strangers.

Those who have already been identified are currently being supported by multi-agency professionals including the police, Torbay Council's children's services, and the NHS.

Yesterday Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Simon Snell, told a press conference that ‘all manner of grooming’ has been taking place.

He said: ‘We are treating this investigation very seriously.

‘We have interviewed around 20 children so far with regard to offences connected with child exploitation. We may deploy officers to interview further children.

‘Today we have arrested a 19-year-old Torbay man in regard to offences around child exploitation.

‘That individual is currently in custody at Torquay police station.

‘We are looking at other people and further arrests may be made in the coming days and weeks.

Danger in their midst: The alleged offences, ranging between rape and sexual assault, involved at least 20 child victims who knew their offenders. Police stressed victims were not being snatched by strangers (File image)

‘We are not dealing with individuals that are grabbing children off the streets. Each of the children is known to the offenders.

‘We are working very closely with schools, sharing information to make sure their children are safe. We are giving the victims every single support we can possibly give them.

‘One of the lines of enquiry is to establish whether the offenders are known to each other and if they are actually working together.

‘There appears to have been all manner of grooming taken place, which may have occurred on the internet. We are keeping an open mind with regards to Facebook, Bebo and other internet sites.’

An investigation was launched after victims made initial complaints some weeks ago and police believe the abuse could have been going on for a number of years.

The letter has been sent the parents of children at 14 secondary schools in the Torbay area - known as the English Riviera - which includes the towns of Torquay and Paignton.

It says there is no specific intelligence to suggest pupils were being targeted, but said a ‘complex child abuse investigation is currently underway in Torbay’.

It added that the ‘investigation involves the sexual exploitation of a number of young people in Torbay, some of whom are in our Torbay schools’.

The letter pointed out no exploitation had occurred in any Torbay school, but addressed parents' concerns about ‘this sort of thing is happening within our community’.

Warning: One of the 16,000 letters to parents - sent on behalf of the head teachers of each of the secondary schools in the area - states in bold that children from that particular school are not involved

It added: ‘Your continued vigilance in ensuring the safety of your child is never more important than at this crucial time.

‘For the great majority of students, life will go on as usual.

‘Let me assure you, the investigation involves a very small number of the total population of young people in Torbay.

‘This means that most young people are not at risk of sexual exploitation.’ The letter also re-iterated that ‘school remains a safe and caring haven for students where they are well protected from harm’.

Fears: A parent reads a letter sent by St Cuthbert Mayne School in Torquay. No pupils there are victims

Some parents have criticised the letter for causing panic and begging more questions than it answered.

But Det Insp Snell said: ‘I need to clarify that the reason we sent these letters out. We are reacting very quickly to intelligence we received from lots of agencies.

‘The letter was sent out to reassure parents and to make sure that they didn't hear on the grapevine about the police investigation.

‘The whole idea was to tell parents there was an investigation in progress and we are very limited in what we can say.

‘If the letters have alarmed parents and alarmed victims then I can only apologise on behalf of my organisation.

‘That was certainly not the intention to raise any moral panic in regard to what is going on in our police investigation.’

Horrified parents today spoke of their fears after news of the investigation emerged.

Ray and Sharon Houghton have three children at different schools in Torbay and received separate letters signed from the heads of Combe Pafford Business & Enterprise School, Paignton Community College and Kings Ash school.

Mrs Houghton, 37, said the letters were each worded the same but contained few details about the abuse investigation, leaving her feeling ‘worried and in the dark’.

She said: ‘It's hard to grasp what is going on. It is obviously very concerning and we have been given very few details about the investigation.

‘I am now thinking I can't let my kids go out, I want to know where they are at all times. We feel worried and in the dark about what is happening.’

St Cuthbert Mayne School, in Torquay: None of the children here are believed to have made allegations

The couple have five children, three of which, aged 11, 13 and 15, attend local schools.

Window fitter Mr Houghton, 58, who has two other grown up children, said the letters would frighten parents of youngsters at all schools in the area.

He added: ‘We have had three letters and I understand they are being sent to schools all over. It must be a serious investigation to be notifying so many parents. There is no smoke without fire.

‘The letters we received each say that no child at that school was involved. But they obviously don't know that for sure.

‘I'm sure other parents are worried. Who is to say which children have been involved. If they are sending letters to every school it must be a large investigation concerning many children.’

The letter - sent on behalf of the head teacher of each school - states in bold if children from that particular school are not involved.

It reads: ‘In partnership with the Police, Children's Services and the NHS, I need to inform you about a complex child abuse investigation that is currently underway in Torbay.

‘The investigation involves the sexual exploitation of a number of young people in Torbay, some of whom are in our