The grooming gang scandal is a stain on British history. How did we allow hordes of gangs of Muslim Pakistani men to prey on white English girls?
When Sikh girls were targeted, the Sikh community united, forming vigilante groups to protect them. Since the early 1980s, British Sikh organizations have documented sexual abuse and exploitation of young Sikh females by grooming gangs populated by perpetrators of primarily Pakistani Muslim heritage. The Sikh community cared for their girls. The English seemingly did not. In fact, the media, politicians, police, and child services willfully ignored it.
This article chronicles the groundbreaking civil case brought by a Rotherham survivor, anonymized as “Elizabeth,” against her convicted rapist, Asghar Bostan. As the first known instance of a grooming gang survivor securing financial compensation directly from her abuser, this case offers a blueprint for hundreds of other survivors seeking justice.
A Scandal Ignored for Decades
The grooming gang scandal first surfaced in a 1975 Rotherham Advertiser report, but it was much later when national journalists covered it. Julie Bindel wrote about it in The Sunday Times in 2007, followed by Andrew Norfolk’s front-page coverage in The Times in 2012. For years, the only politician to speak out was Labour MP for Keighley, Ann Cryer, who raised alarms after mothers reported their 12- and 13-year-old daughters being sexually exploited by older Asian men, with police and social services refusing to act. The first trial and convictions took place in 1997 in Leeds.
Since then, over 450 men have been convicted in over 75 trials across 40 towns, from Rotherham to Rochdale, Oxford to Bradford. Yet, not one of these cases resulted in financial compensation from perpetrators to victims, despite convictions for heinous crimes. In Yorkshire, a region with a Christian heritage dating back to Roman times, towns like Bradford now have 100 mosques and a 25% Muslim population, a demographic shift intertwined with the scandal’s narrative. This story exposes the English establishment’s failure to confront these gangs, leaving survivors like Elizabeth to fight for justice.
The Case: Elizabeth v. Asghar Bostan
August 2020: A Survivor’s Fight Begins
In August 2020, Alan Craig and Baroness Cox met Elizabeth in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. Elizabeth was raped as a teenager by Asghar Bostan, a taxi driver convicted on 9 February 2018 at Sheffield Crown Court for two counts of child rape (2000-2002) under Operation Stovewood, the National Crime Agency’s investigation into Rotherham child sexual exploitation (1997-2013). He received a 9-year sentence. Moved by her courage, the team, supported by Hearts of Oak, vowed to seek financial justice through a civil suit. Peter McIlvenna helped secure £30,000 from Lord Pearson of Rannoch and Lord Vinson to cover legal costs, as Elizabeth could not afford the tens of thousands required.
September 2020: Assembling the Legal Team
Finding a lawyer for this unprecedented case was challenging. Robin Tilbrook, a determined solicitor, agreed to represent Elizabeth and instructed a barrister. Inspired by the adage, “It always seems impossible until it’s done,” often attributed to Nelson Mandela, the team aimed to make history.
October 2020: A Parole System Betrayal
In October 2020, Elizabeth learned Bostan had been moved to an open prison without her knowledge, after serving only 32 months. Open prisons allow weekend releases, leaving Elizabeth terrified he could harass her. The Ministry of Justice offered a bland apology, admitting the oversight. Assessed as a low abscond risk, no clear evaluation addressed his potential to reoffend.
December 2020 – March 2021: The Transcript Battle
Securing court transcripts from Bostan’s 2018 trial was arduous. Lord Pearson requested them via the House of Lords Library, which contacted Sheffield Crown Court. The judge approved release on 13 January 2021, but the full four-day hearing transcript cost over £2,000, deemed too expensive by the Library. Partial transcripts, covering only the final judgment, arrived in mid-February. The team paid for additional parts, exposing a system where even Parliament struggles to access legal records.
July 2021: Barrister Engaged
While awaiting transcripts, Tilbrook instructed a barrister to advance the civil claim.
November 2021: First Court Hearing
On 15 November 2021, Liz v. Asghar Hussain Bostan was heard at the Royal Courts of Justice. After 2.5 hours, the judge granted anonymity for Elizabeth, waived the five-year limitation for personal injury claims, and froze Bostan’s assets, a key step forward.
August 2022: Rapist Freed Early
Bostan was paroled in August 2022 after serving half his 9-year sentence, with conditions barring him from Rotherham. The lack of electronic monitoring heightened Elizabeth’s fears.
October 2022: Second Hearing for Extensions
A second hearing extended the asset freeze and requested a £10,000 fee exemption. The judge, surprised by delays in issuing the exemption, intervened.
January 2023: Claim Submitted
After securing the £10,000 fee waiver, the team submitted Elizabeth’s compensation claim, challenging a system that burdens victims with financial barriers.
March 2023: Landmark Damages Award
On 27 March 2023, the High Court ordered Bostan to pay £425,934.09 in damages, later revised to ~£450,000 with interest. Bostan, who did not engage, faced default judgment and potential bankruptcy.
September 2023: Interim Charging Order
An interim charging order was granted against Bostan’s property, preventing its sale or transfer.
November 2023: Final Charging Order
The charging order was finalized, securing Elizabeth’s claim against Bostan’s assets.
January 2024: Parole Breach
Bostan was spotted one mile from Elizabeth’s home, breaching parole conditions. Without electronic monitoring, his movements went unchecked until reported, leading to his recall to prison.
May 2024: Second Fee Exemption
The court approved another £10,000 fee waiver, underscoring the system’s relentless demands. The courts always want their pound of flesh!
October 2024: Order of Sale Issued
With the final fee exemption secured, Tilbrook issued an order to sell Bostan’s property, advancing the compensation process.
June 2025: Parole Denied
On 25 June 2025, Elizabeth delivered a victim impact statement via video link at a Parole Board hearing, facing Bostan and his solicitor. She called the process torturous, as the legal system seemed to punish victims further. The Board denied parole, requiring Bostan to serve his full sentence until February 2027.
September 2025: Awaiting Final Enforcement
As of September 2025, the team, with support from Hearts of Oak, awaits a final court date to enforce the sale of Bostan’s property, completing the compensation process.
The Heroes in This Long Fight
Elizabeth: Her inner strength and tenacity turned a tragic story into a hopeful outcome for herself and other survivors.
Baroness Cox: As Secretary of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Honour-Based Abuse, she has been a tireless voice for these girls.
Lord Pearson of Rannoch: The only outspoken House of Lords member for survivors, he raised crucial funds for this case.
Robin Tilbrook: His legal expertise drove this unprecedented fight for financial justice.
The Villains
The courts and Ministry of Justice dragged their feet, further punishing survivors with delays, £10,000 fees, and parole oversights. Even a judge was shocked at the inaction, showing the systemic barriers to justice.
A Call to Action
Elizabeth’s case is a blueprint: secure funding, assemble a legal team, obtain transcripts, seek anonymity and fee waivers, freeze assets, and pursue damages through charging orders and property sales. We urge survivors to follow this path and call on donors to fund a hundred more cases. Elizabeth’s victory proves justice is possible.
#LFG!
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