Mohammed Zahid, 65 Mushtaq Ahmed, 67, Kasir Bashir, Mohammed Shahzad, 44, Naheem Akram, 49, Nisar Hussain, 41 and Roheez Khan were jailed for a total of 174 years
Two teenage girls were left with life-long mental and physical scars after enduring years of sex attacks and rapes by a gang of seven men who were today jailed for a total of 174 years.
In just one of the dozens of depraved incidents, Girl A, was drugged and taken to a secluded location where she was raped, with the horrific act filmed while and shared widely. In another, Girl B was taken to a house in Oldham where she was abused by several men in turn, the court was told.
Today, Mohammed Zahid, 65, Mushtaq Ahmed, 67, Kasir Bashir, Mohammed Shahzad, 44, Naheem Akram, 49, Nisar Hussain, 41 and Roheez Khan were all given prison sentences, although Bashir is still on the run after fleeing before the trial started.
Both young women bravely took to the stand to share their harrowing experiences, both reminding the judge that they lost so much at the hands of these men. Girl A said: “I am a victim of grooming. My life has been destroyed from the abuse of these men.
“My childhood was taken away from me by these men. I should have been out with friends, playing in parks and being innocent, hanging around on the streets, enjoying my childhood and creating memories I would be able to cherish and look back on as an adult.
“However, my life was far from that due to these men. Instead, it was based on being taken to addresses by men, being plied with alcohol and drugs, raped and then being made to feel worthless by a hurl of humiliating and degrading comments directed at me.
“I meant nothing to these men, they used me for their advantage only. They didn’t care how their abuse would have an impact on my childhood and adult life. As long as they got what they wanted, that was all that mattered The abuse has affected every part of my life, from what I look like, relationships, health, to my mental health. There is not a part of it it has not affected and destroyed in some way.”
And Girl B said: “I coped with what these men did to me, as at the time I believed that every man I came into contact with would expect sex. It is horrific that I didn’t know any different. My way of coping was to block out most of what had been done to me. I have felt shame and guilt all my life for what these men did.
“My life has been on hold for the last 20 years. I have never been able to move on from the abuse. This has not just impacted my life and what I could have achieved, but also my children’s lives. They have become victims of these men too.
“I never expected these men to accept responsibility for what they know they did to me, so I knew they would put me through a trial. I have had to endure being blamed by them in their attempt to get off with what they did.
“They accused me in court of a number of outrageous motives for speaking out and telling the truth. I am disappointed that Bashir has taken the coward’s way out and run away from facing what he has done. It’s like his last bit of control over me. But this is the only disappointment I have.”
Today the two young women were praised by police and the judge for their bravery in helping to bring about the gang’s convictions. Detective Chief Inspector Guy Laycock, the senior investigating officer on the case said: “[The two survivors] have been pivotal in bringing these abusers to long-awaited justice by bravely giving painful and difficult testimony during a four-month trial. Without them this would not be possible and today is about them.
“These seven men preyed on vulnerability for their own depraved sexual gain. The men abused, degraded and then discarded the victims when they were just children. This horrific abuse knew no limits, despite their denials throughout this lengthy investigation and court case.
“They had a callous disregard for these women when they were girls and continue to show no remorse for their unforgivable actions all these years later. The team of dedicated investigators on this case have put thousands of hours into securing this outcome.
“They’ve supported the victims throughout to piece together all the evidence. Bringing child abusers to justice is why we work so tirelessly day-in day-out, and I am so pleased for the victims that we have been able to help deliver this justice for them.”
Judge Jonathan Seely. ended the sentencing today, saying: “I cannot leave this hearing without once again paying testament to the extraordinary courage of the two young women who were the victims in this case. Both were badly let down by those whose job it was to keep them safe.
“They both made an incredibly brave decision to come forward and make their complaints, knowing what they would have to go through. They have both come through this further ordeal having shown such tremendous courage. I thank them both.”
The sentences in full:
- Mohammed Zahid, of Station Road, Crumpsall, Manchester. Sentenced to 35 years for ten counts of rape, four counts of indecency with a child, five counts of procuring a girl to have unlawful sexual intercourse and one count of attempting to procure a girl to have unlawful sexual intercourse
- Mushtaq Ahmed, of Corona Avenue, Oldham. Sentenced to 27 years for four counts of rape, four counts of indecency with a child and one count of procuring a girl to have unlawful sexual intercourse
- Kasir Bashir, of Napier Street East, Oldham. Sentenced to 29 years for two counts of rape and two counts of indecency with a child
- Roheez Khan, of Athole Street, Rochdale. Sentenced to 12 years for one count of rape
- Mohammed Shahzad, of Beswicke Royds Street, Rochdale. Sentenced to 26 years for five counts of rape and one count of assault by penetration
- Nisar Hussain, of Newfield Close, Rochdale. Sentenced to 19 years for two counts of rape and one count of assault by penetration
- Naheem Akram, of Manley Road, Rochdale. Sentenced to 26 years for six counts of rape and one count of assault by penetration