The truth behind the disappearance of Charlene Downes: 'She was reduced to this salacious, shocking story'

The 20-year-old mystery surrounding Charlene Downes' disappearance has been marred by speculation and far-right rhetoric, with many in Blackpool still believing two men who were tried in 2007 got away with murder. Nicola Thorp, a writer, actor, and broadcaster who grew up in the town, is now on a mission to clear up some of the misinformation and expose how Charlene was repeatedly failed by those around her.

Thorp has been researching the case for years and has come across some disturbing stories that she believes have been sensationalized or distorted. She remembers hearing about a salacious story claiming that Charlene's body had been turned into kebab meat, which is still widely believed today. However, Thorp's investigation has revealed that this story was likely based on dubious evidence and may have been fabricated.

The case against Iyad Albattikhi and Mohammed Reveshi, who were tried in 2007, collapsed due to doubts over the evidence. The men were accused of killing Charlene and disposing of her body, but a retrial was abandoned due to concerns about the secret tapes that purportedly linked them to the crime.

Thorp believes that class played a significant role in the investigation, with police officers describing Charlene as a "runaway" and downplaying her disappearance. The media also perpetuated a racist narrative around the two Middle Eastern men who were accused, which has had a lasting impact on the case.

In addition to the police failures and media sensationalism, Thorp is critical of the Facebook group that has been campaigning for justice in Charlene's name. While the group claims to be motivated by a desire to uncover the truth, Thorp believes it has become increasingly hostile and divisive.

Thorp's podcast series has revealed some disturbing stories about grooming gangs in Blackpool and the police handling of the case. Many women who were groomed at the time of Charlene's disappearance reported feeling pressured into testifying against the men involved, and some even believe they were intimidated or threatened by investigators.

The investigation into Charlene's disappearance is still ongoing, with a £100,000 reward for information that leads to a conviction. Thorp believes that witness evidence yet to be uncovered could hold the key to solving the case, but she also acknowledges that the police handling of the investigation was inadequate and potentially compromised the pursuit of justice.

Ultimately, Thorp's podcast series is not just about uncovering the truth about Charlene Downes' disappearance but also about highlighting the systemic failures that allowed her to be failed by those around her. It is a call to action for people to bring information forward and to demand better from the justice system.

the whole thing's been super messed up since day one . i mean, all this speculation about ib & mr being guilty? come on, that story about charlene's body gettin turned into kebab meat? total trash . and then you got people still runnin with that narrative? it's like, how many times do u gotta be told u ain't got nothin' right?

and don't even get me started on the media & class issues . police treatin her like a runaway? sounds like they were more worried 'bout keepin their own heads down than helpin her out . and those racist vibes around ib & mr? u mean come on, that's just nasty .

anyway, nicola thorp doin some good work here . need more people comin forward with the truth, not makin it up as they go along

I'm so worried about how this case has been handled , it's just heartbreaking thinking about Charlene's family going through all that pain and uncertainty. But I've gotta say, Nicola Thorp is a total hero for taking on this mission ! It's like she's shining a light on all the dark corners of the investigation and trying to clear up the truth. And yeah, class played a huge role in how it was handled - it's just not right that Charlene was seen as a "runaway" rather than a person who deserves justice .

And can we talk about the Facebook group for a sec? I think Nicola's right to be critical of them, they've got some pretty disturbing stuff going on there. It's like they're perpetuating this toxic energy and drama instead of focusing on finding justice . But at the same time, I'm so glad that people are still passionate about Charlene's case - it means she hasn't been forgotten.

The police handling of the investigation was definitely inadequate, and the fact that witness evidence is still out there to be uncovered is just amazing ! Nicola's podcast series is like a beacon of hope in all this darkness. It's a reminder that we can make a difference if we speak up and demand better from our justice system .

this charlene downes case has been messed up for 20 yrs & its still not cleared i mean come on, a salacious story about kebab meat? no thanks, sounds like a load of BS to me and then theres the racism factor, police & media failing blackpool ppl & targeting arab men unfairly... thats just disgusting

anyway, nicola thorp is doing some good work exposing all this nonsense and i love that she's having a podcast series about it - gotta keep ppl informed! & £100k reward for info on charlene's disappearance? gotta support that

this is so weird how charlene's body was turned into kebab meat rumor but turns out it was probably made up i mean what a load of lies, right? Nicola Thorp sounds like a really nice person trying to get the truth out there and exposing all the mistakes that happened back then i feel bad for charlene's family and friends who've been dealing with this crap for so long

its crazy how one case can get so twisted, like this Charlene Downes thing has been going on for ages and people are still speculating about who was behind it . idk man, i feel bad for her and all but some of these stories seem like theyre just being sensationalized, you know? like that whole kebab meat story was probably a load of rubbish . anyway, its good to see someone like Nicola Thorp trying to dig up the real truth behind it all . i mean, class and racism definitely played a part in how this case was handled, thats no secret . and yeah, that facebook group can get pretty toxic sometimes, its like theyre more focused on stirring up drama than actually finding out whats going on . anyway, im glad theres still people out there who care about Charlene's story and want to see justice done .

I'm still shook about what happened to Charlene . The more I learn, the more I realize how messed up everything was . The media and cops were all over her like a bad rash . And those salacious stories? Forget about it ... she wasn't even a kebab !

I'm so tired of classism and racism being thrown around this case . It's not just about who killed Charlene, it's about how we handled the investigation . And honestly? The Facebook group is doing more harm than good .

Nicola Thorp's podcast series is a game-changer . She's giving voice to all the women who were silenced or intimidated during that time . I wish more people would listen and demand change .

The truth is out there , but it takes a lot of courage to speak up . Charlene deserves justice, and so do we .

I'm getting really frustrated with how this whole Charlene Downes thing has been handled... like, I know it's 20 years old now but still . The idea that two men were accused of killing her and then had their case dropped because of questionable evidence is just wild . And the media just perpetuated all this racist and classist crap about the Middle Eastern guys involved... ugh .

But Nicola Thorp's podcast series has been really eye-opening, especially when it comes to how women who were groomed at the time of Charlene's disappearance were basically coerced into testifying against the men . It's like, we need to be talking about this stuff and demanding better from our justice system, you know?

And I love that Thorp is on a mission to clear up all the misinformation and expose how Charles was failed by those around her... it's time for some real accountability . The fact that there's still no one in custody 20 years later is just ridiculous .

Anyway, if you haven't checked out Thorp's podcast series yet, I highly recommend it . It's really making me think about the systemic issues at play here and how we can do better .

I'm telling you, this whole thing reeks of a cover-up . Think about it, all these years later and we're still hearing about a "kebab meat" story? That's just crazy talk ! Nicola Thorp is onto something big here. The class angle and media sensationalism were already red flags . And don't even get me started on those secret tapes... what's really going on there? Maybe it's time we take a closer look at the real players involved

And those Facebook group ppl are just drinking the Kool-Aid . All that divisiveness and hostility... no wonder justice is still elusive . It's like they're more worried about stirring up drama than finding the truth . We need to be careful here, folks. There might be some serious corruption going on

But you know what's even more disturbing? The fact that those women who were groomed during Charlene's time are still being silenced . It's like they're too afraid to come forward because of the system they were already failed by . We need more folks like Nicola Thorp, shining a light on these systemic failures and pushing for change

this whole thing is wild, i mean charlene's case has been going on for like 20 years now and it's still super unclear what happened to her... Nicola Thorp sounds like a total hero though, trying to get to the bottom of all the messed up info that's been spread around about those two guys who were accused back in 2007. i'm so done with how the police and media handled this case - all this "kebab meat" nonsense? really? it just goes to show you how quickly misinformation can spread and how hard it is to get the truth out. and then there's the whole racism thing... ugh, classism too. i feel for charlene and her fam - justice needs to be served ASAP!

I'm totally frustrated with how this case has been handled - it's like, we're still not getting to the bottom of things 20 years on! I mean, Nicola Thorp's investigation has blown some major holes in all these wild stories that have been circulating, and it's just sad that people are still buying into them. The salacious story about Charlene's body being turned into kebab meat? Totally debunked. And the way those two guys were treated by the media - it was basically a witch hunt from the get-go. Classism and racism definitely played a role in how the investigation went down, and it's shocking that we're still not seeing more accountability for all these systemic failures.

I love that Thorp is out there fighting for justice, though - she's like a true detective, digging up all this info and bringing attention to the important stuff. And I'm with her on calling out those Facebook groups that are just perpetuating hate and division instead of actual truth-seeking. We need more people like Nicola Thorp in our lives, you know?

Anyway, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this case will finally be solved soon - it's time to bring closure to Charlene Downes' family and loved ones.

it's crazy how long its been since charlene went missing and yet we're still getting new info like this i mean dont get me wrong, its all very sad but also frustrating that all these years later we're still trying to figure out what happened to her & it seems like the police messed up big time back then. i feel for nicola thorp for having to dig into all this stuff but at least she's on a mission to set the record straight the thing is, class played such a huge role in how everything was handled (or not handled) and its just not right that people were described as a "runaway" & then the media started spinning this racist narrative around 2 men who were already vulnerable. anyway, gotta keep pushing for justice & transparency

lol, cant believe its been 20 yrs since charlene went missing , its crazy how speculation has taken over the whole town. i mean, who needs facts when u got salacious stories that sound way more interesting lol , but seriously tho, nicola thorp is doing some real investigative work and shedding light on how class played a huge role in the investigation. i mean, downplaying it as a "runaway" girl? come on , its not just about the 2 guys who were tried back in 2007, its about the police failures, media sensationalism, and even some of the ppl on facebook who are trying to 'help' thru some pretty sketchy means . anyway, good on thorp for keepin it real and calling out all the systemic fails that led to charlene's case goin cold

I'm so frustrated hearing about all the misinformation surrounding Charlene's case , especially how it's still affecting Blackpool today. It's like, we need to get our facts straight before we start pointing fingers at the wrong people . I mean, those two guys who were tried in 2007 didn't get a fair shake from the media or the police, and now it's like they're being villainized again . Nicola Thorp is doing some amazing work trying to set the record straight, and I'm so proud of her . She's not just talking about clearing Charlene's name; she's talking about systemic failures that allowed her to be failed by those around her . We need more voices like hers who are willing to speak truth to power and demand justice for people like Charlene . Let's all do our part to bring forward any info we might have, no matter how small it seems, and support Nicola's efforts in getting justice for this poor girl .

I'm so frustrated with the way this case has been handled over the years . All these years, people in Blackpool have been convinced that those two guys got away with murder , but Nicola Thorp is trying to tell us a different story . It's all about class and racism - the police officers made assumptions about Charlene being a "runaway" , and the media just ran with it .

And don't even get me started on that Facebook group ! It sounds like they're more interested in stirring up drama than actually finding out what happened . I mean, who needs to be hostile and divisive when we should be working together to uncover the truth ?

It's also crazy that all these years later, we still don't know for sure what happened to Charlene . The police have a £100k reward on for info, but it feels like they're just going through the motions .

I think Nicola Thorp is really onto something with her podcast series - she's not just trying to solve this case, she's highlighting all these systemic issues that need to be addressed . We need more people speaking out and demanding better from our justice system .

omg u dont believe the stuff ppl r sayin bout Iyad & Mohammed lol it was all cos of racism n classism, sounds like the case got botched from day 1 they werent even in blackpool when charlene went missin now this new lady Nicola Thorp is tryin to get some truth out, its about time she's on a podcast series and everythin u should def check it out

I'm still in shock thinking about what happened to Charlene Downes 18 yrs ago... all these yrs ppl thinkin those 2 fellas did it & no one bothered to investigate other ppl? It's messed up that class played a role in this investigation. Like, how many times do u gotta be told u r not good enough b4 they believe u?

I also don't get why Facebook groups can turn so toxic, especially when it comes to somethin like this where ppl wanna help find answers. But noooo, instead of uniting people, ur just fuelin the drama & hate.

Nicola Thorp's podcast series sounds really informative tho. I love how she's callin out systemic failures & encouraging ppl to speak up... we need more of that!

the way charlene's case has been handled is so messed up i mean, think about it - 20 years and still no justice? it's like the investigation just kinda... stalled and then there are these guys who were tried in 2007 but got a free pass due to some dodgy evidence meanwhile, we're still hearing this ridiculous story about charlene's body being turned into kebab meat like what even is that? it just goes to show how far off the mark the media and police were with their narrative. i'm so glad someone like nicola thorp is coming in with a level head and trying to set the record straight this whole thing needs some serious scrutiny and it's not just about finding out who killed charlene, it's about exposing the systemic failures that let her down in the first place

I'm still trying to process everything . The fact that some people are still convinced those two guys got away with murder after all these years is just mind-blowing . Nicola Thorp's podcast series is really shedding light on how much misinformation was spread around and how class and racism played a huge role in the investigation, especially when it came to how Charlene was described as a "runaway". It's so unfair that women who were groomed at the time are still reporting feeling pressured or intimidated by investigators . I'm really glad Thorp is on a mission to clear up some of these false stories and expose the systemic failures that happened during this case. A £100,000 reward for information could be just what we need to finally solve this mystery .

I'm all for getting to the bottom of this 20-year-old mystery, tbh . I mean, it's been super frustrating for Charlene's family and friends that all these years later, we still don't know what happened to her. Nicola Thorp seems like a great journalist who's really digging deep into the case and trying to separate fact from fiction. The salacious story about kebab meat being made from Charlene's body? Yeah, let's be real, that was probably just a load of old codswallop .

It's also super concerning that class played a role in how the investigation was handled, with police officers basically writing off Charlene as a "runaway" and downplaying her disappearance. That's not fair to her or her family. And don't even get me started on the media's handling of it – all those racist overtones towards Iyad and Mohammed? Ugh .

But, for real, Nicola Thorp's podcast series is giving me hope that we might finally get some answers. She's highlighting some really disturbing stories about grooming gangs in Blackpool and how the police handled the case, which is just not right. We need to keep pushing for justice for Charlene and making sure that our justice system doesn't fail people like her again .

One thing though – I'm a bit skeptical about this Facebook group campaigning for justice in Charlene's name. It sounds like it's gotten pretty divisive and hostile, which isn't what we need when we're trying to uncover the truth. We need to keep our cool and work together, not tear each other apart .

Anyway, I think Nicola Thorp's on the right track here, and I'm excited to see where her investigation takes us next