SOCIAL WORKERS IN ROTHERHAM HID SIX-YEAR KNOWLEDGE OF TEENAGE MOTHER'S SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND MURDER

In Rotherham, a disturbing revelation has come to light regarding the tragic case of Laura Wilson, a 17-year-old girl who was brutally murdered in October 2010. It has been uncovered that social services, responsible for her welfare, were aware for over six years that Laura was at significant risk of sexual exploitation by predatory Asian gangs, yet failed to intervene effectively.

Laura Wilson, a teenage mother from Rotherham, had endured years of grooming and abuse by a series of British Pakistani men. Her tragic death was the culmination of a series of failures by authorities who knew of her vulnerability but did little to protect her. She was stabbed multiple times by Ashtiaq Asghar, who was 18 at the time, and subsequently pushed into a canal in South Yorkshire, where he used the blade of a knife to force her head beneath the water as she desperately fought to survive.

Asghar was convicted of her murder and sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 17 and a half years after pleading guilty in October 2010. The case drew widespread attention not only because of the brutality of the crime but also due to the revelations about the systemic neglect that preceded it.

It has now emerged that Rotherham County Council’s social services had detailed knowledge of Laura’s situation from as early as when she was just 11 years old. Despite this, little was done to shield her from the dangers posed by the gangs that targeted her. Records show that she was referred to a child exploitation project shortly after her 11th birthday, indicating early recognition of her vulnerability.

Further disturbing details reveal that Laura had been taken into a car with men who encouraged her to drink alcohol, and at the age of 13, she and a friend were given alcohol by men at a local takeaway. These men then asked what they would give in return, prompting her mother to notify the police immediately. Her mother was reportedly shocked when she learned that Laura was involved with older men and had repeatedly tried to get social services and police to intervene.

Additional documents, which the authorities attempted to suppress through legal action, confirm that Laura, identified as Child S in reports, had interactions with at least 15 different agencies. These reports highlight numerous missed opportunities to intervene and protect her from ongoing abuse. It was noted that she eventually became almost invisible to care professionals, a sign of how her case was neglected over time.

One censored section of the report mentions that Laura was involved in a police inquiry in 2009, which led to the conviction of five Pakistani men for sex offenses against three underage girls. The report also alludes to her association with a friend who was believed to have become involved in sexual exploitation, with a particular focus on Asian men, though this detail was concealed in the publicly released version.

Laura’s murder was a tragic culmination of years of neglect and systemic failure. She was repeatedly knifed by Ashtiaq Asghar, who was furious after she revealed her sexual relationship with him to his Muslim family. Asghar was described as being on a “mission to kill,” and he exchanged threatening texts with Ishaq Hussain, a married man and mentor who had also been involved with Laura. Hussain, aged 22, was later acquitted of murder but was identified as someone who regarded white girls as “sexual targets, not human beings.”

In one of the messages sent a day before the murder, Asghar wrote: “I’m gonna send that kuffar (non-Muslim) bitch straight to Hell,” and in another, he mentioned “doing a mission,” with references to buying a pistol and spilling blood, reminiscent of themes from the satirical film “Four Lions.”

Lord Justice Davis, during Asghar’s sentencing, criticized him for being influenced by Hussain, who was portrayed as a man who viewed white girls as mere objects for sexual gratification. The judge emphasized that Asghar once had feelings for Laura but ultimately treated her with contempt.

In 2007, Laura and her family appeared on The Jeremy Kyle Show, where her sister warned her that her attitude could lead her into danger. Despite this, social workers later sent a report about her, but no action was taken to remove her from the cycle of abuse. By the age of 16, Laura was involved in an affair with Hussain, who was then 20 and already married. She gave birth to a daughter in June of the previous year, but Hussain refused to accept paternity.

Just days before her death, Laura publicly shamed Asghar and Hussain by informing their families of her relationships with both men. Asghar’s mother reacted violently, attempting to hit Laura with a shoe and calling her a “dirty white bitch” who should “keep your legs closed.”

Alan Hazell, Chair of the Rotherham Local Safeguarding Children Board, issued a statement denying that any information had been deliberately redacted from the reports to protect certain individuals. He acknowledged that the case was complex and that the agencies involved could have acted more proactively. Hazell emphasized that lessons had been learned and that ongoing initiatives aimed to improve services and prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Following the recent trial of nine men, mostly of Pakistani origin, who were convicted of raping and abusing up to 47 girls, some as young as 13, Baroness Warsi publicly condemned a “small minority” of Pakistani men who view white girls as “fair game” for sexual exploitation. She stressed the importance of acknowledging the problem openly to address it effectively, calling for a firm stance against those who see women as second or third class citizens.