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A report detailing large scale and long-term abuse of teenage girls at a barber shop has been labelled “a damning indictment of the inadequate children's services in Somerset” by a council leader.

A Somerset Safeguarding Children Board report states that between 2010 and 2014, Ahmet Kurtyemez, 29, and Mehmet Citak, 34, who worked at Legendz barbers and piercing shop on Middle Street in Yeovil “systematically abused” six children, aged 14 and 15 at the time.

Victims have come forward to speak about how they were taken advantage of, “fed every drug apart from heroin”, raped and beaten by the two men at the town centre shop, you can read their horrifying accounts by clicking here.

Now, Jane Lock, leader of the Liberal Democrats on Somerset County Council, has claimed the young girls involved were let down by those who they needed the most.

She said: “I have read the Serious Case Review report of the dreadful abuse suffered by girls in Yeovil.

“They were completely let down by the people you would normally turn to, those who should be prepared to take any action against these dreadful men.”

Sally Halls, independent chair of the Somerset Safeguarding Children’s Board has said that incidents like those that are detailed in the report “simply can’t be explained away”.

She said: “It’s correct that it wasn’t followed up for far too long and it took until 2014 before there was a more robust approach but it’s also to do with the level of understanding among agencies at the time, and indeed nationally."

However, Ms Lock believes that there is still not enough in place to stop this kind of situation could arising again.

She said: “The report is a damning indictment of the inadequate children's services in Somerset at that time with a 50% vacancy rate for social workers. Could they honestly say it wouldn't happen again? I don't believe they can.

“Children's Services looked at the parenting, but one of the girls under the care of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) continued to be visited and taken out by her abuser and the police prosecuted one of the victims for racial abuse.

“Somerset County Council, health services and the police were negligent by not sharing information which might have helped the nightmare to end sooner. It could not have been any worse.”

Two men were jailed for a total 32 years for rape and assault of up to six children, leading to the review being published last week.

The report outlines 14 missed opportunities by the authorities to establish that the exploitation was happening.

Ms Lock added: “The bravery of the girls and their families has been inspiring and I hope the changes that have been made as a result of this case will make it easier for young people to be listened to and taken seriously.”

You can read more about the report be clicking here.