LESLEY LORAM ROCHDALE SEXUAL ABUSE VICTIM RECEIVES £200,000 IN DAMAGES

In a landmark case that has sent shockwaves through Rochdale and beyond, a man who was sexually abused as a child has been awarded a substantial compensation payout of over £200,000. The victim, now an adult, took legal action against multiple perpetrators involved in a heinous child prostitution ring that operated across Rochdale, Manchester, and Leeds.

According to the detailed proceedings in London's High Court, the abuse began when the boy was just 12 years old. He was groomed by Nathan Eyre, a notorious paedophile from Leeds, who used alcohol, drugs, and threats of violence to manipulate him. Eyre then 'sold' the boy for £500 to Raymond Hawthorne, a known child prostitution boss operating in Manchester. The boy's ordeal was prolonged and brutal, with the abuse inflicted by Eyre, Hawthorne, and their clients leaving deep psychological scars that persist to this day.

The court heard that the boy was lured to Eyre’s flat in Leeds under the pretense of air rifle shooting and being allowed to drive Eyre’s car. Once there, Eyre would intoxicate and drug him, gradually escalating the sexual abuse. Over time, Eyre introduced the boy to other men, inviting them to his flat to molest him for their own gratification. The grooming process was systematic and manipulative, designed to desensitize and exploit the young victim.

At the age of 14, the boy was forcibly 'sold' to Hawthorne, who was in his 30s and ran a child prostitution ring in Manchester. Over the course of the following week, the boy was subjected to daily abuse by multiple men, often four or five different clients each day. The police, alerted by his family after he was reported missing, eventually tracked him down on October 31, 2003. During the investigation, it was revealed that Leslie Loram, then in his late 40s, and David Riley, aged 62 from Eccles, were among Hawthorne’s clients who participated in the abuse.

Leslie Loram was identified as having committed a 'serious and violent indecent assault' on the 14-year-old boy. He was subsequently arrested and convicted, receiving a prison sentence of three and a half years in 2004 after admitting to two counts of serious sexual assault and one of indecent assault. Riley, on the other hand, was sentenced to two and a half years for his involvement. Hawthorne himself was sentenced to nine years, while Eyre received an 11-year term for his extensive sex crimes.

The impact of this traumatic experience has been devastating for the victim. The court heard that he attempted to take his own life in 2008, and after being diagnosed HIV positive later that year, he made another suicide attempt by overdose. He continues to struggle with mental health issues, including self-harm, and reports feeling hopeless, with his only interest being watching television. The psychological scars inflicted by the abuse have left him with a lifelong burden.

In recognition of the profound suffering endured, Mrs Justice Swift awarded the victim a total of £209,450 in damages. This sum includes £70,000 for pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life, as well as compensation for lost earnings. An additional £20,000 was awarded as 'aggravated damages' to emphasize the horror of the abuse he suffered. The court’s decision underscores the severity of the crimes committed and the lasting impact on the victim’s life, highlighting the ongoing need for justice and support for survivors of such heinous acts.