A GROOMING gang have been found guilty of raping and abusing two teen girls in Rochdale in a five-year reign of terror.
The seven men “passed” the victims around for sex and preyed on them in squalid flats and car parks in the town.
GMPMohammed Zahid has been convicted of sexual abuse in Rochdale[/caption]
They groomed the girls from the age of 13 and made them their “sex slaves” by plying them with gifts, including alcohol and drugs.
The victims both had “deeply troubled home lives”, which meant they were easy prey for the fiends.
During a five year horror ordeal, the girls were expected to have sex “whenever and wherever” the defendants and other men wanted.
As well as flats and car parks, the predators abused the teens on rancid mattresses, in cars, alleyways and disused warehouses.
Mohammed Zahid, 64, Kasir Bashir, 50, Mushtaq Ahmed, 66, Roheez Khan, 39, Mohammed Shahzad, 43, Nisar Hussain, 43, and Naheem Akram, 48, were today convicted.
Three of the abusers, Zahid, Ahmed and Bashir were born in Pakistan and worked as stallholders on Rochdale’s indoor market.
Father-of-three Zahid – known as Boss Man – gave free underwear from his lingerie stall to both victims.
He was previously jailed for five years after he engaged in sexual activity in 2006 with a 15-year-old girl who he met when she visited his stall to buy tights for school.
Bashir did not attend the current trial after he absconded while on bail before the trial got under way.
It can also be reported that Shahzad, Akram and Hussain were remanded in custody with their bail revoked in January before the jury was sworn in.
Police received intelligence that the three Rochdale-born taxi drivers were planning to leave the UK and had already paid a deposit for their transport.
While Pakistani-born Khan was one of five men convicted of sexually exploiting a “profoundly vulnerable” 15-year-old girl in 2008 and 2009, it can now be revealed.
Zahid was found guilty of 20 offences including rape, indecency with a child, and attempting to procure a girl into having unlawful sexual intercourse.
Bashir was convicted of rape and indecency with a child, while Ahmed was guilty of nine offences including rape.
Khan was convicted of rape, alongside Shahzad, Hussain and Akram.
Hundreds of vulnerable young girls exploited by Asian men in Rochdale in a nationwide scandal.
Full list of convictions for grooming gang
Mohammed Zahid convicted of ten counts of rape; four counts of indecency with a child; five counts of procuring a girl under 21 to have unlawful sexual intercourse; and one count of attempt to procure a girl under 21 to have unlawful sexual intercourse.
Kasir Bashir convicted of two counts of rape; and two counts of indecency with a child.
Mushtaq Ahmed convicted of four counts of rape; four counts of indecency with a child; and one count of procuring a girl under 21 to have unlawful sexual intercourse.
Roheez Khan convicted of one count of rape.
Mohammed Shahzad convicted of five counts of rape; and one count of assault by penetration.
Nisar Hussain convicted of two counts of rape; and one count of assault by penetration.
Naheem Akram convicted of six counts of rape; and one count of assault by penetration
A report in 2024, which covers 2004 to 2013, identified 96 men still deemed a potential risk to children – but most of these are yet to be prosecuted.
There were also at least 74 children being sexually exploited – and in 48 of those cases there were serious failures to protect the child.
It also detailed other examples that showed “compelling evidence” of widespread, organised sexual abuse of children in Rochdale from as early as 2004 onwards.
It wasn’t until 2010 – more than two years later – that GMP finally launched Operation Span into the abuse claims.
GMP confirmed a total of 32 fiends have now been jailed for 300 years as part of two major investigations into Rochdale.
Assistant Chief Constable Steph Parker is GMP’s lead for protecting vulnerable people. She said: “The survivors in this case are two women who were horrendously abused by this group of men.
“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 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.”
GMPKasir Bashir was among the men convicted today[/caption]
GMPMushtaq Ahmed worked on a market stall[/caption]
GMPKhan was previously convicted over another grooming trial[/caption]
GMPAkram was one of the seven men found guilty today[/caption]
GMPHussain is also facing jail[/caption]
GMPShahzad had plotted to flee the country[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
