Survivors Speak Out: "It Happened to Me in Scotland"
A survivor of a major Asian grooming gang, who was trafficked across the border into Scotland, has confronted First Minister John Swinney, demanding he launch an immediate public inquiry into the organised sexual abuse of children.
Fiona Goddard, who successfully secured convictions against her West Yorkshire abusers, has revealed she was also raped by their associates in Glasgow and Edinburgh. The 32-year-old, who has waived her lifelong right to anonymity, stated unequivocally: "This is widespread right across the UK and on a mass scale. The idea that John Swinney thinks this stopped at the border is insane in itself."
Fiona was targeted from the age of 13 while living in a children's home. Her testimony to West Yorkshire police in 2014 documented four separate trips to Scotland where the abuse continued, details corroborated by her official care records. Despite this, she confirms she has never been contacted by Police Scotland.
Political Pressure Mounts at Holyrood
The issue dominated First Minister's Questions after another survivor, known as 'Taylor', wrote a powerful letter to Mr Swinney. Taylor says she was abused by a ring of Pakistani men at the age of 13 while in a care unit in Glasgow. She described how up to ten men would ply her and her friends with alcohol and hard drugs in flats in the Govanhill and Rutherglen areas.
In her letter, Taylor expressed deep disappointment, stating: "I want to express how deeply disappointed I am with yourself and Police Scotland, that you did not take my complaint seriously." She decided to speak out after receiving what she called "dismissive replies" from the authorities.
Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay directly challenged the First Minister, urging him to "get off the fence" and order a "full and fearless" inquiry. He highlighted that West Yorkshire police were aware of Scottish links as far back as 2014, yet no one in Scotland "bothered to investigate".
Government and Police Response Under Scrutiny
First Minister John Swinney refused to commit to a national probe, despite the direct appeals. While claiming he remained "open" to the idea, he insisted he was waiting for further evidence. He pointed to the government's existing strategic group and Police Scotland's review of historical cases as the current course of action.
This stance stands in stark contrast to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who ordered a national inquiry into grooming gangs in England and Wales earlier this year. There is no equivalent investigation planned for Scotland.
Mr Findlay rejected any suggestion that victims were to blame for under-reporting, emphasising that Taylor was a child and the authorities were aware of the crimes through social work reports at the time. He stressed that the problem is not confined to one community or a historical issue, citing recent convictions of a white gang in Glasgow and a Romanian gang in Dundee.
A Police Scotland spokesperson addressed Taylor's complaint, confirming that while information was received, no formal crime report was made. They advised her to report any crimes, and the complaint was closed with her agreement.
With survivors bravely coming forward and political pressure intensifying, the demand for a transparent inquiry into the industrial-scale abuse of children in Scotland shows no sign of abating.
