BBC One commission 90-minute documentary ‘The Betrayed Girls’ into grooming scandal

Sara Rowbotham

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BBC One has commissioned a 90-minute documentary into the grooming scandal, ‘The Betrayed Girls’, following the acclaimed drama, ‘Three Girls’,

The feature length documentary features harrowing accounts from victims, some of whom are bravely speaking out for the first time. It also features interviews with individuals speaking out on behalf of the girls, including manager of the Rochdale Crisis Intervention Team Sara Rowbotham, former Detective Constable Maggie Oliver and Chief Prosecutor, Nazir Afzal.

‘Three Girls’ aired in May, a three-part drama based on the true stories of victims of the sexual abuse and grooming scandal that emerged in Rochdale five years ago.

In May 2012, nine men of Pakistani and Afghan origin were found guilty of child sex charges after targeting vulnerable girls in Rochdale and Heywood.

All were convicted and charged at Liverpool Crown Court with offences including rape and sexual assault, conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a child and trafficking a child within the UK. They were all ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and received sentences ranging between four and 19 years in prison.

Directed by Henry Singer, the Sandpaper Films documentary was commissioned by Charlotte Moore, Director of Content, BBC One, and Clare Sillery, Head of Commissioning, Documentaries. The commissioning editors of the documentary are Clare Paterson and Maxine Watson. The producer is Rob Miller and the executive producer is Simon Ford.

Rochdale Borough Council have been contacted for comment.