In a heartbreaking court session, a teenage girl recounted the traumatic experience of being allegedly raped by three boys at a tram stop in Rochdale when she was just 13. The girl, who broke down in tears during her testimony, stated emphatically that she never consented to the encounter, saying, 'I never said yeah.' This statement highlights the serious nature of the alleged assault and the grave implications surrounding consent, especially given the ages of both the victim and the accused.

The Minshull Street Crown Court heard that the alleged attack took place in bushes near the tram stop, where the boys allegedly took turns raping the girl. Prosecutors informed the jury that part of the incident was recorded on a mobile phone, with footage that was later circulated among the boys and others. Such an act not only exacerbates the trauma for the victim but raises serious questions about the responsibility and awareness of minors when it comes to sexual consent and assault.

Currently, two of the boys, now aged 15 and 16, face trial, while the third boy, who was 12 at the time of the alleged assault, has been deemed unfit to stand trial. The complexities of this case lie in the intersection of juvenile justice laws and the societal responsibility to protect minors from both perpetration and victimization, shining a spotlight on the urgent need for comprehensive education surrounding consent and sexual violence among young people.