Five men have been held accountable for reprehensible, heinous historical sexual offences as part of a grooming gang. Mohammed Ghani, 38, Insar Hussain, 38, Jahn Shahid Ghani, 50, Martin Rhodes, 39, and Ali Razza Hussain Kazmi, 35 are standing trial for exploiting two teenage girls in Rochdale between 2002 and 2006.
Shocking details revealed that both of the now-adult victims would be picked up from their schools in the middle of their classes while still wearing their uniforms; they’d be subjected to vile acts of sexual assault.
The first victim in the case, Girl A, was a mere 12 years old at the time The abuse started. In an even more disturbing detail- Girl A was videotaped being sexually assaulted as she was passed out—while members of the gang laughed. They will be sentenced by Judge Lesley Roberts at Minshull Street Crown Court at a later date.
This crime is repulsive and inexcusable— but holding the men accountable is a step forward in bringing justice for the victims.
In a Manchester court, jurors heard the shocking tale of two teenage girls whose allegations of abuse and rape only came to light in 2015. After one of the girls discussed her ordeal while on a parenting course, police were alerted, leading them to speak with the second girl, Girl B. Despite the gravity of the situation, neither alleged victim can be identified for legal reasons.
Adding to the distress of the case were revelations that Girl A had said the abuse she experienced was “so much worse” than what was depicted in the BBC drama Three Girls – which showed the horrific experiences of child exploitation in Rochdale. It wasn’t until she read the book which the series was based on that she was able to come to terms with the events, realising that she too had been a victim. The trial continues as authorities seek justice for these two brave girls.
Girl A revealed to her sister: “That happened to me.” She then took to social media to share her experience, noting that it was “worse than what happened in Three Girls”. During court proceedings, Girl B recalled how she and her friend had been enticed with booze before being coerced into having sex by the gang members.
The resulting verdict viewed Ghani, Hussain, Ghan and Kazmi as guilty of child sexual offences, while Rhodes pleaded guilty to similar charges. Conversely, Ikhlaq Yousef, 38, Aftar Khan, 34, and Mohammed Iqbal, 67, all of Rochdale, were cleared in the court.
Assistant Chief Constable Sarah Jackson of Greater Manchester Police paid tribute to the victims for their tenacity and bravery in delivering the justice deserved. “This result has been a long time coming, and we are hugely appreciative of the patience and commitment demonstrated by the victims and survivors throughout their journeys.”
Senior Crown Prosecutor Frances Killeen of the Crown Prosecution Service echoed her sentiments, praising both victims for coming forward and inspiring others. “These are horrendous acts of depravity, done without consideration of any consequences or trauma left behind.” she said.
Sharon Hubber, Director of Children’s Services at Rochdale Borough Council, had this to add: “Their courage to stand up against these aberrations has been inspiring; our sincerest hopes go out to our two heroes for finding strength to achieve justice”.