TRAGIC ABUSE VICTIM’S DIARY RECOVERED 17 YEARS ON
EXCLUSIVE: JOURNAL SET FOR KEY ROLE IN INQUIRY INTO SEX ATTACKS ON CHILDREN
A DIARY written by a teenage vic- tim of sexual abuse has been recovered by police - 17 years after her death.
The journal will now play a significant part in an ongoing new inquiry into the abuse of Victoria Agoglia.
GMP became aware of the existence of the diary last year, but only obtained it last month. It had been in the possession of Manchester council.
Victoria’s loved ones have been asking for her abuse to be investigated ever since her death, aged 15, in 2003. Victoria, who was in the care of Manchester council, died after she was injected with heroin.
A damning report published in January said a coroner’s narrative verdict recorded at her inquest ‘significantly underplays the coercion and control she was subject to’ in terms of child sexual exploitation.
The report represents the findings of the first part of a review into how child sexual exploitation is dealt with in Greater Manchester and considers a police operation launched in 2004 in response to Victoria’s death.
Operation Augusta was designed to investigate the sexual abuse of children predominantly in care in south Manchester, with the report identifying up to 97 potential paedophiles and around 57 potential victims. But the review, commissioned by Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham in 2017, found Augusta was discontinued in July 2005 due to resourcing.
This was despite police and other authorities amassing colossal evidence against the perpetrators. A number of the men identified went on to commit, and be convicted of, sex crimes.
Victoria, who had been in care since the age of eight, disclosed two months before her death to her social worker and a substance misuse worker that an older man was injecting her with heroin, the report found.
Operation Greenjacket, was launched by GMP in May 2018, aimed initially at reinvestigating child exploitation in 2004/05.
The force was strongly criticised after the grooming investigation, prompted by the death of Victoria was closed down.
Assistant Chief Constable Mabs Hussain, who is leading Operation Greenjacket, said there has been a sea-change in the force’s approach to dealing with child sexual exploitation.
The scope of Greenjacket has grown as result of GMP and Manchester council reviewing historic files and speaking to victims and alleged perpetrators. This has uncovered additional historic information and victims that were not seen by the original 2004/05 investigation. It means the number of victims has grown from the original 25 reviewed in the report commissioned by the mayor to more than 50.
In a statement issued to the M.E.N., GMP said: “GMP first became aware of the existence of this diary in May 2019. The diary was subsequently handed over to GMP detectives by Manchester City Council in August 2020.
“As this is a live investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment further. Our thoughts remain with the family of Victoria. Any victim of child exploitation is encouraged to contact police on 0161 856 2124 or via opgreenjacket@gmp.police.uk “Even if victims don’t wish to pursue a criminal justice outcome, specialist officers from GMP are available to listen to them and ensure they receive personalised support.”
A Manchester council spokesman said: “We have proactively worked with Greater Manchester Police to support Operation Green Jacket and share the determination of all involved to bring perpetrators to justice.
“We have shared the diary with GMP as quickly as we could within the correct legal processes. We are also assisting the coroner with inquiries.
“The diary - which parties were aware of at the relevant time - and all matters relating to Victoria are subject to a live police investigation and ongoing coronial inquiries and as such it would be inappropriate for us to comment further on the detail.”
It is understood the council would refute any suggestion it had been sitting on the diary. In January, GMP said that one man had been arrested and another questioned under caution over the abuse of Victoria. Both were released under investigation.
A council source said: “Manchester council has been in possession of a diary belonging to Victoria. The police found out about it last year and it has taken a long time for them to get it. Questions are being asked as to why. The contents are horrible. It is very odd that it was not made available sooner.”