Eight members of a Bolton grooming gang have been convicted of sexually abusing a schoolgirl over a two-year period by plying her with drugs and alcohol.
Four of the men were convicted of rape or attempted rape and all were found guilty of sexual activity with the girl when she was aged between 13 and 15.
The jury at Liverpool Crown Court heard how the offences occurred mainly at ‘a party house’ in Blackrod, where drugs and drink were consumed.
They introduced the girl, described as ‘young, naive and impressionable’, to cocaine and cannabis.
‘She was groomed. As part of the grooming, and to lessen any objections, she was plied with alcohol, cannabis and cocaine,’ Ben Lawrence, prosecuting, told the court.
‘At various times she considered herself to be in a relationship with a number of the defendants.
‘However, the feeling wasn’t mutual. Defendants committed both consensual and non-consensual offences against her.
‘They were, of course, content if she consented to sexual activity. However, if she didn’t consent they would do it anyway.’
Richard Oliver Haslam, 35, (pictured) of Bolton, was convicted of three rape offences, two counts of sexual activity and one of causing a child to engage in sexual activity
Harvie Aspen, 25, (left) was found guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a child and Daniel Flatters, 34, (right) was found guilty of four offences of sexual activity
James Lee Fitzgerald, 36, of Bolton, was convicted of one offence of assault by penetration
He said that the defendants were part of ‘a malign friendship group, which sought to prey on her once it became clear that another man had been able to have sex with her repeatedly’.
The offences came to light after the complainant was involved in a car crash in June 2018 and revealed what had been happening to her.
Cory Barrett, 24, formerly of Blackrod but now of Wigan, was convicted of five rapes and one offences of sexual assault by penetration.
Jack Martyn Poulson, 31, of Bolton, was found guilty of two rapes and five counts of sexual activity with a child.
He was also convicted of causing a person to engage in sexual activity, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and sexual communications with a child.
Richard Oliver Haslam, 35, of Bolton, was convicted of three rape offences, two counts of sexual activity and one of causing a child to engage in sexual activity.
Elliott Turner, 26, (picture) was convicted of two sexual activity counts
Pictured: Liverpool Crown Court where the grooming gang case was heard
Daniel Flatters, 34, from Bolton, was found guilty of four offences of sexual activity and Brandon Jacob Harwood, 25, also of Bolton, of attempted rape and sexual activity.
Elliott Turner, 26, was convicted of two sexual activity counts and James Lee Fitzgerald, 36, both of Bolton, was convicted of one offence of assault by penetration.
Harvie Aspen, 25, of Radcliffe, Bury, was found guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a child.
The defendants, who were cleared of some of the other similar charges they faced, have all been remanded in custody to be sentenced at a later date.
