Fiona Goddard, a grooming gang survivor who was first abused at age 14 in a Bradford children's home, is facing homelessness after being forced to flee a property she says was "surrounded" by her abusers' associates. Police advised her that her social housing was no longer safe, and she has entered emergency accommodation.
The mother of five, who waived her right to anonymity to campaign for sexual abuse survivors, is currently moving between Airbnbs paid for by social services. She fears what will happen after the tenancy ends on October 1.
Police agree property unsafe
"The police have agreed the property is unsafe for us to go back to given the circumstances, not just to do with my abusers, but they managed to recruit people from prison that have been harassing, threatening and stalking non-stop," she told the Express.
She added: "They all live surrounding me. They're all connected to my abusers one way or another. One of them actually sells drugs on the end of my street. He clearly already knows where I live because he's literally five doors down."
"Social services told us they were going to pay for the Airbnbs until I found a permanent home, but then we got a letter on Tuesday saying that they were only paying until October 1, and then they would be pulling the funding."
Children's schooling disrupted
Ms Goddard is unable to send her children to school because transport is unaffordable at £50 a day, and she is unsure where their new permanent base will be.
"I feel like it's a big kick in the teeth. I don't feel like it's safeguarding children because they're putting children at risk of being homeless," she said.
One of her nine perpetrators, Mohammed Usman, was released last August after serving half of his 15-year sentence for two counts of rape. He was part of a major Bradford grooming ring that used alcohol, drugs and violence to exploit teenagers in local authority care. Ms Goddard said she feels threatened since his release.
More perpetrators due for release
"At the time of the trial, the harassment was bad, then it calmed down for a long time. Because they're getting released, it's all just started again," she said.
"It's all right releasing people at 50% of the sentence, but when there's clear danger that they're going to harm their victim again, then that should have to be reconsidered, and I don't mean just emotional harm, I mean actual harm."
She said she received a letter stating that convicted rapists Izar Hussain, Parvaze Ahmed, Kieran Harris and Naveed Akhtar are all due to be released by summer next year, serving half their 16 and 17-year sentences in prison, and the rest on licence. Ms Goddard fears what will happen when they are freed.
The mother of five said fake social media profiles were used to stalk and harass her, including intimidating messages about what other perpetrators had done upon release, and specific details about her day, such as what she had eaten for dinner.
Campaign for new home
She has already had to move homes several times for her own safety, fleeing to Lincolnshire following the trial, which stripped her of her family network when she needed them.
"Eventually I just broke down and I went into a full-blown crisis, so I moved back to Bradford to access my family support networks and try and rebuild my life."
Her friend has now set up a fundraising campaign to help the family cover the huge costs of finding new private accommodation away from her abusers, including rent owed on the property they were forced to flee. However, she fears being found again.
"The problem is that I got trafficked to most of the major cities around England, so I know that they have connections to any of them. What I don't want to do is move somewhere and one of their family members or friends see me again."
A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said: "Police are investigating a report of online harassment. A woman aged 33 has been arrested on suspicion of harassment and has been bailed pending further enquiries."
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "These crimes were abhorrent and our thoughts remain with Fiona Goddard. The grooming gangs scandal was one of Britain's darkest moments. That's why we launched an Independent Inquiry and have driven child sex offence convictions to record levels."Sex offenders released on licence are subject to strict licence conditions to protect the public. They can be recalled to prison immediately if they breach those conditions."
The Express has approached Bradford Children's Trust for comment.
