Operation Stovewood: Rotherham man arrested over ten child sex offences

National Crime Agency officers arrested the 73-year-old man in Rotherham this morning over offences alleged to have taken place between 2005 and 2015.

The arrest is part of Operation Stovewood, which is investigating allegations of child sexual exploitation in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013.

As part of a separate investigation, officers from the NCA, supported by Leicestershire Police, arrested a second man (37) in Leicester on suspicion of arranging or facilitating another to commit rape between May and August 2004 in Sheffield.

Both men are now being questioned, said a spokesman for the NCA.

Philip Marshall, the NCA’s senior investigating officer for Operation Stovewood, said: “Officers continue to make good progress on Operation Stovewood with more than 170 arrests now made.

“I hope this continued activity sends out a message to victims that we are taking allegations seriously.

"We encourage all victims to come forward and give their accounts in the knowledge they will be listened to and they will be supported throughout.

“If you believe that you were a victim of child sexual abuse in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013 or might have information that might assist our investigations then please contact us.”

Operation Stovewood is the single largest law enforcement investigation into non-familial child sexual abuse in the UK.

Potential victims and witnesses can contact the team via the NCA website: www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/Stovewood. All information will be treated in confidence.