A child rape case involving a man who lured underage victims with promises of free vapes and cash has renewed attention on systemic failures in the UK's handling of grooming cases, as a prominent report author warns that young victims continue to be failed by authorities.

Bawan Harwe was convicted of rape after using his access to high street mini-mart locations to target underage girls, offering them vapes and money to lure them back to his flat where the abuse occurred. The case has prompted fresh scrutiny of how such crimes are enabled and investigated.

Baroness Casey, author of a significant report on grooming, told the BBC that victims who were both abused and prosecuted as children are still not receiving adequate support or justice. Her comments highlight persistent problems in how the criminal justice system responds to child victims of sexual exploitation.

The warnings come as authorities continue to grapple with historical cases where children who were victims of grooming gangs were themselves prosecuted for associated crimes, rather than being recognized as victims of exploitation.

Baroness Casey's report had previously identified widespread failures in how police and social services handled grooming cases, particularly involving vulnerable children who were often from disadvantaged backgrounds or in care.

The combination of new convictions and ongoing criticism from experts suggests that despite increased awareness of grooming tactics, significant challenges remain in protecting children and ensuring appropriate responses from law enforcement and social services.