ROTHERHAM Council leader Roger Stone resigned yesterday after an investigation found at least 1,400 children were subjected to violent sex abuse in the town between 1997 and 2013. 

Inquiry chairwoman Alexis Jay described the number as a “conservative estimate” in her report, adding  that the full scale of abuse will never be known. 

But she did uncover shocking evidence that children as young as 11 were raped, beaten and trafficked. 

Ms Jay said: “It is hard to describe the appaling nature of the abuse the child victims suffered. They were raped by multiple perpertrators. 

“They were trafficked to other towns and cities in the north of England, they were abducted, beaten and intimidated.”

Children being “doused with petrol and threatened with being set alight” were among other horrific examples of the abuse that took place, she said. 

There had been three previous inquiries into the abuse and five Rotherham men were jailed for sexual offences against girls in 2010.

But Ms Jay said there had been a collective failure at the council and South Yorkshire Police to protect children. 

Council youth workers had referred children who suffered abuse to social services and the police in the mid-’90s. 

“In most cases, especially in the early days, the evidence was disbelieved, suppressed or ignored,” explained Ms Jay. 

She said sexual exploitation had “little priority” for the council or police, with victims finding themselves blamed for what had happened to them. 

Labour councillor Mr Stone, who stepped down immediately, said: “Like any right-minded person, I am disgusted by child sexual exploitation and abhor the lifelong damage that it wreaks upon the lives of all those affected by it. 

“I believe it is only right that I, as leader, take responsibility on behalf of the council for the historic failings that are described so clearly in the report and it is my intention to do so.”

Council chief executive Martin Kimber ruled out disciplinary action against council managers. 

He said: “Officers in senior positions responsible for children’s safeguarding services throughout the critical periods when services fell some way short of today’s standards do not work for the council today.”