Leader of the Welsh Conservatives and Clwyd MS Darren Millar has welcomed the guilty verdicts in the Rhyl child sexual exploitation case, describing them as an important moment of justice for the young victims.
Darren, who has long been demanding a specific, independent, Wales-wide public inquiry into the operation of grooming gangs, said yesterday’s verdicts sent a clear message that those who prey on vulnerable children will be held to account.
He said:
“I welcome these guilty verdicts which are an important moment of justice for the young victims. Those responsible for these heinous crimes have shown a complete disregard for the lives and wellbeing of these young victims.
“I hope the verdicts provide some comfort to the victims and commend them for the extraordinary courage they have shown throughout what must have been an incredibly difficult process.
“I also pay tribute to North Wales Police, the Crown Prosecution Service and everyone involved in bringing those responsible to justice.
“These offenders preyed on vulnerable children and must now face the consequences of their actions.
“Anyone who targets children in this way should know that they will be pursued, brought before the courts and punished to the full extent of the law.
“I have repeatedly called for a Wales-specific grooming gang inquiry to establish the full scale of grooming gang activity in Wales, and yesterday’s verdicts underscore the need for one, particularly when considered alongside the evidence of such activity in other parts of Wales."
