Grooming gang guilty of abuse at 'party house'

Richard Haslam was found guilty of three rape offences

Eight members of a Bolton-based grooming gang have been convicted of multiple sexual offences against a teenage girl over two years.

The "young and impressionable" victim was abused between the ages of 13 and 15 and mainly at a property which became known as the "party house" in Blackrod, Wigan.

The last of the eight men was found guilty on Tuesday after a three-month trial at Liverpool Crown Court.

Four of the men were convicted of rape or attempted rape and all were found guilty of sexual activity with the girl.

Daniel Flatters was convicted of four counts of sexual activity with a child

Ben Lawrence, prosecuting, told the jury the girl was "plied with alcohol, cannabis and cocaine" to "lessen any objections".

"At various times she considered herself to be in a relationship with a number of the defendants," Mr Lawrence said.

"However, the feeling wasn't mutual."

Mr Lawrence said the men did not care whether she "consented [to sex] or not".

He said that the defendants were part of "a malign friendship group" which preyed on the girl after they heard one of them had been able to have sex with her repeatedly.

James Fitzgerald was convicted of sexual assault

• Cory Barrett, 24, formerly of Blackrod but now of Wigan, was convicted of five rapes and one count of sexual assault by penetration

• Martyn Poulson, 31, of Bolton, was found guilty of two rapes, five counts of sexual activity with a child, one of causing a child to engage in sexual activity, one of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and sexual communications with a child

• Richard Oliver Haslam, 35, of Bolton, was convicted of three rape offences, two of sexual activity and one of causing a child to engage in sexual activity

• Daniel Flatters, 34, of Bolton, was found guilty of four offences of sexual activity with a child

• Brandon Jacob Harwood, 25, also of Bolton, was found guilty of rape, attempted rape and sexual activity with a child

• Elliott Turner, 26, of Bolton was convicted of two sexual activity counts

• James Lee Fitzgerald, 36, of Bolton, was convicted of one offence of assault by penetration

• Harvie Aspen, 25, of Radcliffe, Bury, was found guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a child.

The defendants, who were cleared of some similar charges, have all been remanded in custody.

The date of their sentencing hearing has not been set.