Drugs running was like 'a paper round' for exploited son, mum says
Summary
A mother told the BBC that her son was groomed by a gang at 13 and made to deliver drugs in Grimsby, sometimes for up to 36 hours. She said it took two years for North East Lincolnshire Council to move him to a safer placement; the council declined to discuss his case and said child criminal exploitation is a priority.Key Facts
- The mother, identified by the BBC as Sandra, said her son has autism and ADHD.
- She said her son was recruited to steal motorbikes and deliver drugs within months of being groomed.
- Sandra said her son entered care at 14 after addiction and exploitation, and that his behaviour had made the family feel unsafe.
- The BBC reported that the boy was moved more than 250 miles away and that his placement cost £1.66 million over two years.
- Home Office data cited by the BBC showed that the number of children recognised as victims of criminal exploitation in the UK nearly doubled in five years, exceeding 3,000 in the latest financial year.
- North East Lincolnshire Council data showed 153 children identified as potentially at risk of criminal exploitation in 2025/26, up 56% in five years; two-thirds were 15 or younger.
- A former council care worker told the BBC she was seeing more younger children being exploited.
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