I have followed with interest the cases of historic grooming and sexual assault of minors in various parts of the country and am aware of cases pending.

There have been enquiries held into the historic abuse and criticism made of constabularies, social services and local authorities who have been held to be less than proactive in originally listening to complainants. Due to the pressures exerted quite rightly by concerned persons and organisations our courts now severely punish those where historic abuse has been proved even after 30 or 40 years. The view maintained that minors cannot give consent then or afterwards by default. “It was not their fault.”

We now have an instance where a 15-year-old girl was groomed (radicalised) and persuaded abroad for marriage. She should not be treated differently than anyone else in law. She was not legally allowed to consent. However we have a Home Secretary who says its her fault. I can hear the cheers of all those criticised for compounding such historic abuse from here. The Home Secretary has further cancelled her British citizenship based on the fact that her mother was from Bangladesh and he held her as of dual nationality against International law.

I see this as the abuse of a minor after the fact and a National disgrace. How now can authority react if the far right use the chant “go back to where your mother comes from”

Shamima Begum is a ticking time bomb and a risk to this country but as a minor she was entitled to its protection as a citizen still in minority when abused. She should be returned and measures taken to address those concerns. The Home Secretary’s actions shame us all and let down the informed and dedicated that try to preserve the advances made against prejudice and bigotry.

A.P.Taylor

Wheatlands, Portland