Shocking pictures have revealed the ‘filthy hovel’ used by a grooming gang to abuse underage girls after plying them with drugs and alcohol.
The decrepit property, in Blackrod near Bolton, was described as a ‘lawless den of iniquity’ by a horrified judge as he sentenced the 10 depraved abusers this week.
They were called ‘monsters’ by their terrified victims who were forced to down booze and take cannabis and cocaine before being raped.
Another girl was so traumatised she told police she would ‘rather be dead’ than re-live what she experienced in that house of horrors.
During the trial it was revealed that the gang had a twisted nickname for their lair – ‘the party house’.
Chilling images have now revealed the disgusting conditions the girls were forced to endure.
Bedrooms covered in dirt, scattered belongings, drugs detritus and revolting grime-covered pillows and duvets.
Bins are seen overflowing with rubbish and almost every surface is full with empty beer cans, discarded items or food containers.
A cabinet in one of the bedrooms shows crude images of male genitalia surrounded by messy writing and childlike scribbles.
Mattresses in the two bedrooms are spotted with unsightly brown patches with clothes, including a novelty Tasmanian Devil tie, left thrown everywhere.
The bathroom is covered in dirt and grime with thick greasy patches on the floor and empty shower gel bottles left dumped on surfaces.
A single pink toothbrush can be seen chucked at the sight of the filthy toilet.
Outside two children’s scooters are dumped in the back garden next to forgotten patio furniture and more scattered rubbish.
The final six members of the gang were jailed yesterday at Liverpool Crown Court following a three month trial. Victims described the men as ‘monsters’ led by ringleader Ashley Darbyshire, 28.
Speaking on Monday, Judge Simon Medland said as he jailed Darbyshire: ‘In time you introduced [one of the victims] to your friends and acquaintances and the community of drug takers, drinkers and wastrels at the Vicarage Road West address of Cory Barrett which had become a lawless den of iniquity, a filthy hovel in which sexual offending, drug taking and drinking took place.’
Darbyshire was jailed for 15 years after he admitted a string of 19 offences involving five girls – including one of raping a naked 15-year-old girl after tying her up before another defendant also raped her.
The court heard Darbyshire had a specific sexual interest in young teenage girls, having deliberately groomed and repeatedly sexually abused one victim from the age of 13.
He also pleaded guilty to making Category C indecent images of another girl.
The gang members were arrested in 2023 following Greater Manchester Police launching Operation Pavarotti, the force’s investigation into child sexual exploitation allegations in the area.
The inquiries resulted in thirteen men charged with more than 50 child grooming sex offences including raping girls as young as 14.
In total, ten members of the abhorrent gang have been sentenced to almost 87 years behind bars – with one being handed a suspended sentence.
Darbyshire would befriend the girls online and messaged them on social media before convincing them to meet him.
The callous behaviour came to light after one of the men crashed a stolen car at high speed in 2018 while drunk, causing injury to main, then-15-year-old victim who informed officers what had been going on.
Giving victim impact statements to court one girl said: ‘This is the story of how these individuals destroyed my life forever.
‘I think nothing can hurt me as bad as what they did to me, but I’m still terrified of everything and everyone around me. I can’t even go outside on my own.
‘I suffered every form of abuse from each of these individuals, and they continue to haunt me every day. What they don’t realise is it’s not okay to take someone’s life just to get a quick fix.
‘I’d rather be dead most days than deal with all this mental torture and memories.
‘Because of these men, I will never be able to live a normal life again. I’m too scared just to do simple tasks such as going outside or holding down a job, even simply being naked.’
To conclude, she added: ‘I am forced, by my own brain, to relive every second with these vile people, over and over again. No amount of prison time for them can make that go away. I live in my own prison now and that is what they have done to me.’
Ben Lawrence, prosecuting, told the court: ‘At various times she [the victim] considered herself to be in relationship with a number of the defendants.
‘However, the feeling wasn’t mutual. Defendants committed both consensual and non-consensual offences against her.
‘They were, of course, content if she consented to sexual activity. However, if she didn’t consent they would do it anyway.’
He said that the defendants were part of ‘a malign friendship group, which sought to prey on her once it became clear that another man had been able to have sex with her repeatedly.’
After the hearing, CPS North West Senior Crown Prosecutor Gill Petrovic said, ‘The way the men groomed and coerced the young girls from their community for their own sexual gratification was manipulative and appalling.
‘They exploited the girls with no concern for them or the impact the abuse from a young age would have on their lives.
‘Sexual abuse can cause lifelong physical and emotional trauma. As their abusers begin their sentences, I hope the women can now begin to move forward knowing that because of their evidence and support, the men have been brought to justice.
‘The CPS is dedicated to pursuing justice for victims of child sexual abuse and will continue to work with our policing partners to prosecute the perpetrators of these heinous acts – no matter how much time has passed since they committed their crimes.’
Darbyshire, 28, was jailed for 15 years, Daniel James Flatters, 34, was jailed for seven years, Richard Haslam, 36, was jailed for 16 years, Jack Poulson, 32, was jailed for 17 years and Corey Barrett, 24, was jailed for 12 years.
Brandon Harwood, 25, was jailed for 10 years, Ross Corley, 30, was jailed for two years and four months, Elliott Turner, 26, was jailed for two years, James Fitzgerald, 36, was jailed for five years and six months, and Harvie Aspden, 25, was sentenced to 1 year and 3 months in prison, suspended for two years.