Child sex abuse survivor bidding to clear her criminal record after SHE was convicted

Now a mum of-two, Sammy Woodhouse, who has waived her right to anonymity, was groomed, raped, threatened and attacked for years whilst in the grip of a notorious gang of sexual predators.

The 35-year-old, who conceived her eldest child at the age of 15 as a result of rape, blew the lid on the child sexual exploitation scandal in her home town when she went public with the years of abuse she had suffered and lack of action taken against those involved.

Her revelations led to a major investigation and an independent report establishing that at least 1,400 children were sexually abused by gangs of men of predominantly Pakistani heritage between 1997 and 2013 while those in authority failed to act.

Sammy’s rapist and the ringleader of a sex abuse gang, Arshid Hussain, was eventually jailed for 35 years in 2016 but Sammy herself also ended up with a criminal record after being ‘criminalised’ for incidents which occurred whilst she was being groomed and abused.

A number of the offences are no longer listed after being classed as ‘spent’ because of the time that has passed.

But a conviction for actual bodily harm after she became embroiled in a fight with another girl being exploited by the sex gangs at the time remains on her record.

She is working with the Centre for Women’s Justice to explore whether any legal action can be taken to get her record quashed.

“This is not just for me, but every other child who has been criminalised as a result of exploitation,” she said.

“If I have any success then it could pave the pathway for others in the same situation.

“Being exploited and groomed it a silent crime, people do not realise it is happening and victims can be forced and coerced into committing crimes. They should not be criminalised for this and having to explain every time it comes up.”

She said her record shows up on background checks and it makes her insurance premiums more expensive.

“Not only have I been criminalised from when I was being exploited and abused but I have to pay money for that. It is wrong,” she added.

“What I have been through has been hell and every day I wake up knowing I have to fight something, with the criminalisation of children top of the agenda.”

She has contacted her MP Alexander Stafford about her fight and wants the National Police Chiefs' Council’s lead on child protection, Simon Bailey, to seek support from all chief constables across the UK.

The campaigner wants Sammy’s Law introduced, which would ensure children are not charged for committing crimes whilst being groomed or coerced.

In November, South Yorkshire Police apologised after a damning report by the police watchdog into the way Sammy’s case was handled.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct found that South Yorkshire Police knew about her rapist having relationships with young girls, including Sammy, as early as 2000 but no action was taken.

The police force admitted that Sammy ‘was not identified as a victim’ or ‘consistently given the support she should have been provided’.