Anna was forced into 'marriage' to an abusive boyfriend. Her case is one of several in a report that reveals the extent of sexual exploitation of children in Bradford.
Social Worker Allowed Wedding Of Terrified Girl, 15, To Her Abuser
By
Zainab Pervez in
Heartbreaking
On 12th August 2021
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Social workers in Bradford turned a blind eye when a 15-year-old grooming victim took part in an Islamic marriage to one of her abusers, a damning report revealed.
Despite the teenager not coming from a Muslim background, professionals meant to protect her then allowed the parents of her 'husband' to foster her after she became pregnant.
Anna, 14, who went missing from a residential home more than 70 times, told charity workers she had been raped in 2002.
At the age of just 15, she "married" her abusive boyfriend. Her social care worker even attended the Islamic ceremony.
She then fell pregnant and was fostered by the husband's family, who were paid a fostering allowance.
Her story was told in a damning new report on sexual exploitation in the city of Bradford in West Yorkshire, according to Yorkshire Live.
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The terrified girl – referred to as 'Anna' – was left in a state of 'domestic slavery', too scared to leave the controlling relationship for fear she would be the victim of an honour killing.
Details emerged yesterday in an independent report into the treatment of five abuse victims in the West Yorkshire city over the past two decades, which found that 'children suffered abuse no child should have to experience'.
Alarmingly, it concluded that some youngsters in Bradford 'remain unprotected' from sexual exploitation.
The report – described by the body which commissioned it as making 'difficult and, at times, distressing reading' – began two years ago after nine men of Pakistani heritage were jailed for more than 57 years over the sexual exploitation of girls who had been in Bradford Council's care.
Anna was placed in residential care as a teenager in 2002 but went missing more than 70 times, according to the report. She disclosed details of sexual abuse – including rapes – to a confidential support service for girls involved in prostitution, but nothing was passed on to police or social workers.
The following year, aged 15, she told the project worker she had converted to Islam and married her older Asian 'boyfriend' in a Sharia law ceremony.
The report said it appeared there had been 'collusion' with this by her social worker 'who allegedly attended the ceremony and assessed that her marriage was likely to reduce the risks incurred when Anna was missing'.
Anna told the report's author: 'At 14 years old I was engaged to be married, taking on the role of an Islamic wife fulfilling the needs of my husband and the extended family somewhat like a maid.
'We had no similarities in race, religion or culture and I continued to be subject to domestic violence and was subject to a coercive, controlling sexual relationship with a known perpetrator. I was frightened to leave, in fear of an honour-based killing.'
The report concluded: 'It is hard to understand how this decision can have been made and it resulted in Anna being entirely reliant on her abuser and his family.'
Instead of protecting her from harm, the placement left her 'at greater risk and made her entirely dependent on them', it added.
While there, she was subjected to 'domestic slavery' and 'sexually abused and exploited by dozens of adult males', it went on.
The Bradford Partnership – which includes Bradford Council children's services and Bradford Police – has since apologised to young abuse victims who had been failed.
It said a large number of defendants have been found guilty and given substantial prison sentences. The joint statement said: 'We believe that practice across all agencies is improving... but there is much more to do.'