Girl sold to sex traffickers by her own mother

The teenager became an 'outlaw' after being taken from a Spanish squat to Britain, where she was repeatedly raped and forced to steal for her captor, the High Court heard.But a top judge - who today ruled she can continue to be cared for in Britain - heard her life began to turn around after she was arrested and turned over to the care system.Identified only as SS, the girl moved to Spain with her family where they lived in appalling conditions for some time, the court heard.In December 2012 her mother, then living with her in an uninhabitable squat, sold her to a child trafficker referred to only as DW.He took her to Britain, and in evidence she said DW repeatedly raped her and forced her to steal for him.She became a 'victim' of child trafficking 'having been brought here, away from her family for the purpose of sexual and or criminal exploitation,' said Family Division judge Mr Justice Cobb.She formed a relationship with a man named 18 or 19 and went to live with him, the court heard.Finally she was stopped by police who arrested her for 'aggressive begging', and she was taken into care after appearing before a youth court.At first she absconded from care and 'lived a life largely as an outlaw', said the judge, but her local council in London continued to try and find her a home.Since April this year the girl has had a settled structured life, the court heard - and in July she began life with a foster carer who she now calls 'mum'.The judge said the girl, now 15, 'appears to have formed a trusting and loving relationship with a foster carer who she refers to as "mum"'.He added: 'She has tentatively embarked on education here, aspiring to develop her artistic skills. 'She has a few friends here. She perceives England as her home, and plainly, indeed emphatically, wishes to remain here. 'The precariousness of her position is illustrated by the fact that she appeared to arrive in this country as a trafficked child - in the company of a man who had the intention of exploiting her for criminal and sexual fulfilment.'At the time she arrived she probably had no automatic right to reside here.'The judge said he had spoken to her and she told him she was 'extremely happy' with the foster mother, who she said was 'a good woman'.She no longer has contact with her biological mother and said if she was returned to Romania or Spain, she was afraid the physical abuse would start again and was 'frightened' for her safety.She felt 'safe and happy' here and would 'kill herself' or 'run away' if forced to return, the judge added, and neither country had asked for her to return.The ruling means the English courts can now decide the girl's future. However, it is unlikely to set a precedent for all children, as it was decided on the particular circumstances of her life.(dailymail.co.uk)Bakudaily.Az