Yvonne Coen QC prosecutes Derby Sex Gang

24 November 2010

7 Bedford Row was instructed to prosecute the largest sex investigation ever mounted by Derbyshire Constabulary, known as Operation Retriever. Miss Yvonne Coen QC led the prosecution team in the two year investigation and series of trials which have been running since February 2010.   These concluded on 24th November with further convictions against the two ringleaders Abid Saddique and Mohammed Liaqat.  They will be sentenced on January 7th 2011 at Nottingham Crown Court. 
 
Over the course of the trials, which featured a total of 26 complainants, 7 other men were convicted of a range of serious sexual and related offences and have already been sentenced to substantial terms of imprisonment. The offences concerned the activities of the group over a two year period in which vulnerable teenage girls between the ages of 12 and 18 were targeted and groomed with a view to sexual activity taking place.

For further details please see the following links -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-11834872

http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/