Council obtains injunctions barring two men from approaching 17-year-old girl

Birmingham City Council has obtained long-term injunctions against two men after concerns were raised about the welfare of a 17-year-old girl in the authority’s care, the Press Association has reported.

At a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court Mr Justice Keehan agreed to bar the men from approaching her until she turns 18. They are also barred from approaching ‘any female under 18’, with whom they are not personally associated, in public places.

According to the report, which was carried by the Daily Telegraph and can be viewed here, lawyers felt there was not enough evidence to obtain criminal convictions at the current time.

Mr Justice Keehan will hear evidence in relation to other men at a hearing on Wednesday.

Lorna Meyer QC, Birmingham’s counsel, said a breach of the injunctions could lead to legal action for contempt of court.

She told the judge: ''Vulnerable children and in some case adult victims have often been groomed, persuaded or threatened.

''It can be difficult to empower the victims to come forward and give evidence against the perpetrators of the exploitation. This case does not rely upon the victim to give evidence.''

Mr Justice Keehan is reported to have said he was satisfied on the totality of the evidence that the men were "seeking to sexually exploit" the vulnerable 17-year-old girl when they picked her up in the early hours of the morning.

The judge is expected to decide on Wednesday whether the men’s identities can be revealed.