POLICE investigating online forums have uncovered at least eight more cases of men drugging and sexually abusing women.
National Crime Agency detectives say a global network of more than 270 users sharing advice on sedating their victims and inviting others to commit rapes has been revealed.
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Gisèle Pelicot was drugged and raped by strangers invited to her home by husband Dominique for nine years Credit: The Times
A similar Europol operation has identified more than 150 potential victims and perpetrators and revealed four online forums.
It follows the high-profile French case of Gisèle Pelicot, who was drugged and raped by strangers invited to her home by husband Dominique for nine years.
And in Manchester, 14 men will face courts after an unnamed husband allegedly drugged his wife over two decades and arranged for men to sexually abuse her.
NCA deputy director Nigel Leary said: “Organised drug-facilitated sexual assault is no longer isolated behaviour.
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“It is increasingly being conducted by networked groups and enabled by digital platforms.”
He said the eight arrests announced by the NCA were in addition to those already facing prosecution in the Manchester case, which first alerted investigators to the wider international network.
He warned: “We’ve seen users actively engaging with other like-minded individuals, discussing in graphic detail how they want to drug their victims to commit the most heinous sexual abuse.
“The scale is deeply concerning.”
Investigators say some women have been abused repeatedly over many years.
Siobhan Blake, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “If you are concerned about things that are happening to you, please come forward.”
