Sam Walker Roberts is a survivor of the Oldham grooming scandal and has spoken out following the government’s decision against a national enquiry

‘I can’t change what’s happened to me. But I can speak out to try and make sure all children are aware of grooming and how to stop it. We have to educate and protect our children, so that child sex exploitation becomes a thing of the past.’

Labour has blocked calls for a public inquiry into rape and sexual abuse by gangs in Oldham.

Speaking about the decision against a national inquiry, Sam added: ‘I feel like we’re being fobbed off; Oldham council has no money, there are no funds for a local inquiry.

‘Besides, only a full government inquiry will give us the answers we need and deserve. Every agency – police, social services and council – ought to be held to account, with prosecutions where they are needed.

‘This can’t happen with a local inquiry.

‘I’ve taken part in several reviews and inquiries over the years, and they are just sticking plasters. We need real change, and we need justice.

‘If the government really do want justice, they must listen to survivors.’

Sam was groomed online aged just 12, by Paul Waites, a former teacher who later sexually assaulted and raped her.

In April 2015, Waites, then 42, was jailed for eleven years for rape, four years concurrently for causing or inciting sexual activity with an underage child, three years concurrently for sexual assault, two years concurrently for sexual assault and 12 months concurrently for sexual grooming.

Sam was groomed online aged just 12, by Paul Waites (pictured), a former teacher who later sexually assaulted and raped her

Only one of her attackers faced justice. Shakil Chowdhury (pictured), then 39, was jailed in 2007 for six years after admitting six counts of rape

Weeks after the attack by Waites, Sam, still aged 12, fell into the clutches of a paedophile ring and was raped repeatedly by a gang at a house in Oldham.

She had originally gone to the police station to report a sexual assault but was ordered to go home and sober up. Instead, she was picked up by two strangers, passed around amongst predators, and brutally raped.

Only one of her attackers faced justice. Shakil Chowdhury, then 39, was jailed in 2007 for six years after admitting six counts of rape. He served only three years in prison after posing as a taxi driver.

Devastated at the failures in the judicial system, Sam launched: ‘You have not defeated me’, a campaign which demanded more support and understanding for grooming victims.

In 2012, she worked with Keith Vaz on an inquiry into localised grooming. In 2014, together with her late husband, Steven, she returned to the street where she was raped and interviewed local residents, gathering evidence that other children had been exploited at the same address.

She and Steven even set up fake profiles online, showing how easily children are targeted. They snared two paedophiles who were later jailed.

In 2019, Sam wrote an open letter: ‘Message to a Monster’ and launched an e petition calling for the notion of ostensible consent to be abolished in child sex cases.

Three years later, Sam headed a panel of 11 victims at the Oldham CSE inquiry. Her complaints against police and council were upheld and she received apologies.

Ms Roberts has been calling for a multi-agency inquiry into the failings for many years and has waived her right to anonymity

Paul Waites preyed on underage girls in a ‘campaign of rape and sexual abuse’ in the mid-2000s, a court heard previously

Waites was handed a life sentence at Leeds Crown Court (pictured, stock image) in 2020. Judge Tom Bayliss QC, sentencing, told Waites he regarded him as a ‘highly dangerous man’

She has since been pushing for a broad review which she hopes will lead to justice for survivors and the introduction of new safety measures for all children.

Though Oldham council agreed last summer to a local inquiry, they have as yet offered no start date or framework.

Chowdhury was posing as a taxi driver when he promised to help her – and refused to name any of his accomplices.

He was jailed for six years after admitting to six rapes, and the case was closed while his accomplices were outstanding.

Prior to the incident in October 2007, she was groomed and abused by a teacher who befriended her online.

Paul Waites lured her to a Sainsbury’s car park after the pair spoke online, and then raped and assaulted her over the course of the summer of 2006.

It was only in 2013 that she felt able to report Waites to police, only to find he had been jailed in 2009 for assaults on other children.

He admitted raping and abusing the victim in 2015, and was jailed for a further 11 years. In 2020, he received a life sentence for raping another victim in Leeds in 2005.

A former detective has claimed that Sir Keir Starmer (pictured) is as ‘guilty as anyone’ over failures to tackle grooming gangs

A judge who sentenced Waites in 2020 said he may never be released from prison due to the serious danger he poses to young girls.

Waites was initially arrested for possessing 600 indecent images of children after being caught in an online police sting.

Officers then found videos on his mobile phone of him having sex with four girls aged 13 to 15 who have never been identified.

The victim of the 2005 rape finally broke her silence and contacted police after reading media coverage of Waites’ rape conviction and sentence.

Judge Tom Bayliss QC, sentencing, told Waites he regarded him as a ‘highly dangerous man’.

He said: ‘You showed an alarming lack of insight. You said in evidence that you were not sexually attracted to young girls.

‘Nothing could be further from the truth. You were, Mr Waites, a highly manipulative and predatory paedophile.’

Detective Inspector Vicky Alexander said: ‘Waites cynically groomed and exploited a vulnerable young girl before luring her to his flat in Leeds and subjecting her to a violent rape.

‘He is a sexual predator whose pattern of offending has shown him to be a significant danger to young girls.

‘We hope the victim can take some comfort from knowing that he has now had to answer for his actions, and we hope that the wider community will be reassured.’

Labour’s stance on a national inquiry into grooming gangs was thrown into confusion today as a Cabinet minister said one had been ‘ruled out‘.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy suggested such a probe had been categorically rejected after a Commons bid to force the move was defeated last night.

However, Downing Street left the door open to an inquiry yesterday, insisting Keir Starmer was ‘open minded’ and would be guided by victims – even though he did not currently believe it was the right way forward.

Safeguarding minister Jess Phillips has also made clear that ‘nothing is off the table’, saying she will ‘listen’ if a new victims’ panel backs another broad inquiry.

A Tory demand for a new national inquiry into grooming gangs was roundly seen off in the Commons last night, thanks to Labour’s huge majority.

Kemi Badenoch‘s amendment was thrown out by 364 votes to 111.