When Newcastle hit the headlines with the latest major prosecution for sexual exploitation earlier this month, the city council was centre stage, with chief executive Pat Ritchie heading up the press conference to announce the case. The trials, which saw the conviction of 17 men and one woman of nearly 100 offences, had been ongoing for a long time. The convictions came as part of Operation Sanctuary, a joint exercise with the police to prosecute sexual exploitation cases across Tyne and Wear.
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