Jurors have convicted seven men of historic sexual abuse in Rochdale
Seven vile abusers who preyed on two vulnerable girls in Rochdale ‘knew no limits’ and STILL show no remorse.
That was the message from Greater Manchester Police today (June 13), as it also reflected on how authorities failed grooming victims in the past as a ‘matter of profound regret’.
The comments come as seven men were found guilty of a string of historic sex offences following a five-month trial at Minshull Street Crown Court.
Jurors heard evidence of how two teenagers were raped and abused for years. The court heard they were treated as ‘sex slaves’ and expected to have sex ‘whenever and wherever’, from cars and filthy flats, to alleyways and disused warehouses.
Today, the abusers – who were mainly taxi drivers or stall holders in Rochdale – were finally convicted of their sickening crimes.
Detective Chief Inspector Guy Laycock, senior investigating officer on the case, hit out at their ‘callous disregard’ for the victims – even two decades on from the ‘horrific abuse’.
He said: “I must start by paying tribute to the two survivors in this case. They 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.”
‘Girl A’ and ‘Girl B’ bravely gave evidence during the trial, which began at the end of January. The girls were ‘passed around’ for sex by the predators before being discarded, the court heard.
Mohammed Zahid, 64; Kasir Bashir, 50; Mushtaq Ahmed, 66; Roheez Khan, 39; Mohammed Shahzad, 43; Nisar Hussain, 43; and Naheem Akram, 48, had all denied the charges they faced. The abuse occurred during the mid 2000s in Rochdale.
Zahid was the only offender to abuse both girls. He groomed and manipulated them after meeting through his stall at Rochdale Market.
Zahid introduced Girl B to Bashir and Ahmed. Taxi drivers Shahzad, Hussain and Akram, as well as Roheez Khan, all abused Girl A.
Both girls had experienced troubled childhoods. Girl B was in care by the age of seven, and although Girl A lived with her mother she had ‘no real home life to speak of’, the court heard. They were manipulated, plied with alcohol and abused.
Bashir did not attend the trial and jurors were ordered not to speculate why. After the verdicts were delivered, it was revealed that he absconded while on bail before the trial got under way.
The seven defendants are the latest to be convicted as part of Operation Lytton, which sees GMP working with Rochdale Council to investigate historic child sexual exploitation, following the town’s abuse scandal.
Assistant Chief Constable Steph Parker, GMP’s lead for protecting vulnerable people, admits the way victims were previously dealt with by authorities is a ‘matter of profound regret’ – but she hopes today’s convictions will show officers are determined to right previous wrongs.
“The survivors in this case are two women who were horrendously abused by this group of men,” she said.
“This unthinkable abuse was compounded by failings from authorities who let them down when they needed protecting the most. They were vulnerable children who experienced the worst trauma possible, and this will remain a matter of profound regret.
“I commend the faith the victims have shown in the GMP of today to support this long and complex investigation. We have excellent officers and staff who represent our determination to protect survivors and pursue offenders, through traditional detective work and our modern victim-centred approach.
“This is painstaking work that is bringing child abusers to justice. I know that our past failings have meant there are people who doubt the police’s commitment today to putting grooming gangs behind bars where they belong.
“Let me be clear: time is no barrier to justice, and we are actively working with dozens of survivors on numerous investigations to ensure no offender gets away with this. When you are ready, we will listen.
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“Our dedicated Child Sexual Exploitation Major Investigations Team has almost 100 investigators working every day to listen to victims and to bring cases to court. Every town, city, and borough in Greater Manchester has a dedicated multi-agency safeguarding team that shares information and investigates all reports to protect children from harm.
“We’re lightyears ahead of where we were, and we are totally focussed on listening to survivors and continuing to further improve on our best practices which are now well-embedded.”
All seven men denied any wrongdoing. A jury unanimously found the following guilty:
- Mohammed Zahid, 64, of Station Road, Crumpsall, Manchester, was found guilty of 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, 66, of Corona Avenue, Oldham, found guilty of 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, 50, of Napier Street East, Oldham, found guilty of two counts of rape and two counts of indecency with a child
- Roheez Khan, 39, of Athole Street, Rochdale, found guilty of one count of rape
- Mohammed Shahzad, 43, of Beswicke Royds Street, Rochdale, found guilty of five counts of rape and one count of assault by penetration
- Nisar Hussain, 43, of Newfield Close, Rochdale, found guilty of two counts of rape and one count of assault by penetration
- Naheem Akram, 48, of Manley Road, Rochdale, found guilty of six counts of rape and one count of assault by penetration.
Sentencing will follow at a later date. Liz Fell, Specialist Prosecutor for the CPS’ Organised Child Sexual Abuse Unit, added: “These men targeted children, preyed upon their vulnerabilities and groomed them for their own sexual gratification.
“The treatment of the victims at the hands of these predators was nothing short of appalling. They were vulnerable children cruelly passed around for sex; abused, degraded and then discarded.
“I want to pay tribute to the victims in this case for their courage in coming forward and giving evidence against these seven defendants. I hope they can find some comfort in knowing that it is because of their bravery and fortitude that we have been able to bring these offenders to justice.
“This case has been incredibly complex and challenging, but thanks to the close collaboration with Greater Manchester Police, we were able to build a compelling case to present to the court. The jury saw through the defendants and delivered the justice these victims deserve.
“These convictions send a very clear message that the CPS, working alongside law enforcement colleagues, will relentlessly pursue justice for victims and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, whenever that abuse took place.”
A total of 32 offenders have now been brought to justice and jailed so far for a combined 300 years as part of two major investigations in the past decade, GMP says.
The force’s dedicated Child Sexual Exploitation Major Investigations Team, which was formed in 2021, has almost 100 investigators working closely with partners and support services to listen to survivors and pursue offenders.