Sky News Daily Prey: Giving a voice to the survivors of grooming gangs
Dec 4, 2025
Liz Lane and Sarah O’Connell, specialist producers behind the documentary 'Prey', delve into the harrowing experiences of grooming survivors. They discuss the alarming methods used by perpetrators, such as befriending tactics and the normalization of abuse among young girls. The producers highlight the varied backgrounds of victims, including Scarlett, who faced systemic failures from authorities. They also expose the chilling connection between drug trafficking and exploitation, and the psychological control that keeps victims trapped in these vicious cycles.
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How Friendship Led To Grooming
- Scarlett was groomed from age 14 after an attack by a local gang led her to seek protection from older peers. She was slowly pushed into sex with men by a older girl she trusted who had initially seemed to protect her.
Victims Come From Any Background
- Victims do not fit one socioeconomic stereotype; Scarlett had a middle-class upbringing and private schooling. Groomers exploit vulnerabilities that can appear in any young person's life.
Betrayal By A Trusted Friend
- A groomer who acted like a protector left Scarlett alone with a man and later laughed, revealing the betrayal. Scarlett woke up with the man next to her and had little memory of the night.