Survivors of a grooming gang in Oxford have told the BBC that many of the men who sexually abused them as children remain free and can still be seen around the city. Their accounts have renewed attention on the long-term consequences of the abuse and questions about whether enough perpetrators have been brought to justice.

One survivor, identified as Sarah, described seeing men she says abused her in everyday places, including shops, petrol stations and restaurants. She said the experience has left her struggling with the knowledge that some of those responsible continue to live their lives without facing legal consequences.

Sarah said she was sexually abused and given heroin from the age of 11. More than two decades later, she testified against three men who were convicted in 2020 and sentenced to between five and 24 years in prison. Despite those convictions, she believes many other perpetrators have never been held accountable.

Another survivor, Chloe, said she continues to encounter some of the men she alleges abused her. She chose not to report her experiences to the police, describing the difficulty of confronting people connected to the abuse in the same community where she grew up.

A third survivor, Rachel, said she was abused between the ages of 12 and 15 and later became a key witness in Oxford’s first grooming gang trial in 2013. Seven men were convicted in that case, which revealed the grooming, trafficking and rape of six girls over an eight-year period.

Although 21 men have now been convicted in connection with the Oxford grooming gang, Rachel believes the investigations have not gone far enough. She said many people involved in the abuse have been allowed to continue their lives without facing the consequences of their actions.

Former senior detective Simon Morton, who led the initial investigation, acknowledged that police had failed to understand the scale of the abuse at first. He said he believed similar exploitation could still be taking place in Oxford and that identifying additional perpetrators remains difficult.

The survivors continue to live with the lasting effects of their experiences, including addiction, emotional distress and concerns about the safety of their own children. Their accounts have added to calls for greater accountability and stronger protection for vulnerable young people.

Thames Valley Police said it continues to investigate offenders involved in these crimes and encouraged victims and survivors to come forward. Meanwhile, a national inquiry is examining why children were not adequately protected from group-based sexual exploitation in England and Wales.