14-year-old girl gang-raped by 10 minors in Belgium

A teenage girl ‘loaned out’ by her 14-year-old boyfriend was gang-raped by 10 minors in Belgium. The girl, who is only 14 years old, was taken to a wooded area in Kortrijk, West Flanders, a spot popular with mountain bikers and near to a highway, where she was raped and abused by her 14-year-old ‘lover boy’ boyfriend and his friends.

In many European countries, ‘lover boys’ is a term used for traffickers who manipulate young girls by pretending to be in love with them.

The abuse took place on three separate occasions between April 2 and April 6, reported the Daily Mail.

The 14-year-old boyfriend had attacked the girl before allegedly allowing several others to sexually assault her as well.

The suspects, all minors aged between 11 and 16, who are reportedly of immigrant origin, filmed the attacks on their smartphones and shared the clips on social media, reportedly over Snapchat — an instant messaging and photo-sharing application.

The youngest of the boys, an 11-year-old, was used as a lookout, reported the Daily Mail.

The investigation into the case has been conducted in secrecy to avoid any leaks of the suspects’ identities.

The girl took several days to come forward out of fear of telling her parents and the police. The police were able to arrest ten boys, six of whom were placed in a closed institution, while the other four were placed under house arrest.

The suspects have given contradictory statements during interrogation, with some blaming each other.

Some of the six minors placed in the institution appeared in juvenile court on Wednesday afternoon. It was reported that two were released on conditions.

Four more young people, including her 14-year-old boyfriend, are now in custody. He’s believed to be the main suspect.

The investigation is ongoing, and prosecutors are working to establish the extent of each suspect’s involvement in the assault.

The case has sparked debate in Belgium about the country’s juvenile delinquency laws and the minimum penalty for sexual offences.

The criminal age of responsibility in Belgium is 18, meaning the suspected sexual abusers were sent before a juvenile judge and are likely to have been placed into a personal rehabilitation programme in youth facilities, reported the Daily Mail.

The survivor is receiving specialist guidance following her ordeal.