11 Mar 2010

UK officials failed to act over 24 years of abuse

10:20 pm on 11 March 2010

Authorities in northern England have apologised for failing to help two women repeatedly raped by their father over a period of 24 years.

The rapes began when one was eight years old.

The pair fell pregnant 18 times and gave birth to seven children.

The Sheffield man, who cannot be named, was given a life sentence after admitting 25 counts of rape in 2008.

One hundred officials and 28 agencies were involved in the case, but all failed to intervene.

The apology was made at a news conference that revealed the findings of a serious case review.

It showed the family moved 67 times so the father could avoid detection.