Five quizzed in probe into teenager's death

FIVE men have been arrested and remain under investigation on suspicion of child sexual exploitation offences committed against Victoria Agoglia – a 15-year-old who died in Rochdale in 2003 after she was forcibly injected with heroin, the M.E.N. can reveal.

- PAUL BRITTON

The major development was revealed as a new inquest into Victoria’s death began at Rochdale Coroners Court yesterday.

At the pre-inquest review hearing, it emerged Greater Manchester Police launched a specific criminal investigation into her death – codenamed Operation Bernese – in 2019.

It’s believed to be running alongside, but seperate to, other GMP child sexual exploitation investigations.

The High Court quashed the verdict of an original inquest into Victoria’s death held in 2007, at which a coroner concluded authorities could not have foreseen the tragedy.

The teenager, also known as Victoria Byrne, was living in a home under the responsibility of Manchester council at the time.

Prior to her death, however, it emerged she had disclosed to social workers that she was being forcibly injected with drugs and raped, but no effective action was taken to protect her.

It was Victoria’s death that began to expose the widespread child sexual abuse of girls in the Greater Manchester area. It prompted GMP to launch an investigation – Operation Augusta – during which evidence came to light that she had been subjected to sexual exploitation and abuse for several years prior to her death. The Augusta probe identified almost 100 suspected offenders and 57 children believed to have been potential victims, including Victoria.

A review commissioned by the mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, in 2017 went on to conclude Augusta was discontinued in 2005 over resourcing issues.