Two men held over historical sex abuse by police probing Lancashire murder
Detectives investigating the murder of a 14-year-old girl more than a decade ago have arrested two men on suspicion of historical sex offences.
Charlene Downes disappeared in Blackpool, Lancashire, on November 1 2003 with no trace found of her despite a lengthy and complex investigation, numerous media appeals and a £100,000 reward offered.
Police say there is no suggestion that the arrests of the two Blackpool men are directly connected to Charlene’s murder.
The ongoing probe is one of Lancashire Police’s largest and longest running inquiries and, as well as examining the teenager’s disappearance, is also looking at the wider issue of child sexual exploitation in the resort.
A 50-year-old man is being questioned on on suspicion of indecent assault and taking indecent images of a child, while a 39-year-old man is being quizzed on suspicion of rape, buggery, indecent assault and possession of indecent images of a child.
The offences were allegedly committed in the early 2000s and relate to two girls aged 14 or 15 at the time.
Senior investigating officer Det Supt Andy Webster said: “We remain committed to finding the killer or killers of Charlene and bringing them to justice and we have a team of detectives and staff dedicated solely to this investigation.
“As part of our inquiries, we are also focussing on the wider issue of child sexual exploitation in Blackpool at around the time of Charlene’s disappearance and we have identified a number of people who could potentially be victims.
“Despite the passage of time, I would like to appeal directly both to those who may know or have heard what happened to Charlene, but also to anyone who may have been a victim of abuse to come forward and contact us.
“I firmly believe that there are people who know what happened to Charlene but have not come forward to speak to the police. You may have been present when she was murdered or may simply have information about how she was killed and what happened to her body.
“For whatever reasons, you may have chosen not to speak out previously, but as we seek to lift the lid on what happened your information is vital to take the case forward.
“If your reluctance is due to fear of reprisals, I would still urge you to contact us. We will ensure that every measure is taken to ensure your safety but the first step requires you to speak to us.
“Also, if you are afraid you could incriminate yourself, let me assure you that our objective is to find Charlene’s killer or killers.”
The inquiry has generated more than 10,500 police actions or lines of inquiry and officers have taken more than 4,800 witness statements.
The £100,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of Charlene’s killer or killers, or the recovery of her body remains on offer.
Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw said: “Someone somewhere has information about this horrific crime and I would urge them to do the right thing and tell police what they know so Charlene’s family can finally get the answers they have been waiting 13 years for.
“We know Charlene was a victim of sexual abuse before she died and sadly hers was not an isolated case. More potential victims have been identified as a result of this wide-ranging investigation and police will continue to act on any new information that comes to light.”
In 2007, a Blackpool takeaway owner was acquitted of her murder after a trial at Preston Crown Court in which it was claimed her body was chopped up and had ”gone into kebabs”.
The trial heard Charlene was one of a number of young white girls who gravitated to the resort’s takeaways to have sex with older men.
Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2016, All Rights Reserved. Picture (c) Lancashire Police / PA Wire.
