Gang convicted of grooming and raping 15-year-old girl

Four men groomed a teenage girl with gifts, drugs and alcohol before raping and sexually exploiting her in Glasgow.

Aivars Hauberts, Ailands Aleksanders, Ludvigs Rudevics and Hardis Gindra first targeted the youngster in 2015.

After buying the schoolgirl gifts and supplying her with alcohol and drugs the men raped and sexually assaulted the minor.

She was then driven around the city to several locations including Castlemilk and Kennishead where she was further exploited.

Hauberts, 21, Aleksanders, 22 and 35-year-old Rudevics have now all been convicted of raping the girl with Gindra, 27, found guilty of consensual sex with a child.

The gang were caught following a four year investigation by the Greater Glasgow Child Abuse Unit and jailed on Thursday at the High Court.

Aleksanders and Gindra were both arrested and charged in 2015.

The investigation continued and a European Arrest Warrant was issued for Rudevics and Hauberts who were traced and arrested in Latvia and extradited to Scotland last year.

Detective Inspector Christopher Nisbet, senior investigating officer for this case, said: “A huge amount of credit and praise must be given to the victim who bravely came forward and spoke to the police.

“We spent a lot of time with her to build this case and today’s conviction could not have been achieved without her courage.

“People who are involved in the sexual exploitation of children prey on vulnerabilities and use a number of tactics to groom their victim. It’s a despicable crime. I must also praise the work of social services at Renfrewshire Council who worked alongside us to help the victim move on with her life, which she has managed to do.

“We would encourage anyone who has been a victim of sexual crimes or anyone who has any information about similar crimes in their area to contact Police Scotland on 101.“

The men are due to be sentenced on Tuesday, 17 March, 2020.