Two teenage girls ‘became sex slaves of group of Asian men in Rochdale’, court hears

Two vulnerable 13-year-old-girls became “sex slaves” for a gang of eight Asian men who would rape and abuse them “whenever and wherever they wanted”, a jury heard.

The men preyed on the vulnerable teens who would be “passed around for sex, abused, degraded and then discarded” at various locations in the northern town of Rochdale, it is alleged.

Rossano Scamardella KC, prosecuting, told Manchester Minshull Street Court how the eight men accused were responsible for the rape and sexual exploitation of the two girls over a five-year period from 2001.

He said: “Through no fault of their own, the troubled backgrounds of the girls made them susceptible to the advances of these men, and others who behaved just like them.

“Their treatment at the hands of these predators was appalling. They were children passed around for sex, abused, degraded and then discarded. That it was the two of them that were exploited in this way was not by chance.”

Opening the expected 12-week trial, Mr Scamardella said the alleged victims would hang around groups of Asian men at various parks, woods and moorland, or at the market and a snooker hall in Rochdale, but would also be driven around by men and picked up and dropped off at various flats and houses.

He added: “These men preyed upon those vulnerabilities for their own perverted sexual gratification in the most humiliating and degrading way imaginable.”

The jury was told how the men would groom the girls to “make them feel like grown-ups” as they were plied with alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, and given places to stay and people to be with.

He said: “Over time it is perhaps easy to see how they became beholden to men who, for the first time in their lives, treated them properly and gave them the attention they so desperately craved.

“But that was to quickly change, and drastically so.

“The girls were expected to have sex with these men and others, whenever and wherever the men wanted. They were often forced to have oral sex and vaginal sex with multiple men on the same day, in filthy flats and on rancid mattresses.

“On other occasions they would be required to have sex in cars, car parks, alleyways or disused warehouses. Wherever and whenever these men wanted it.”

The prosecutor revealed that unprotected sex had been routine with the girls being lied to that it was forbidden for Muslim men to use condoms.

Mr Scamardella added: “Both girls would be expected to answer calls at all times of the day and night from the men that wanted to have sex with them.

“(Girl A) told the police as part of the investigation that often she would be on the phone to one man whilst more than one other would be on hold.

“They became sex slaves.”

He added: “Both girls were vulnerable. They had deeply troubled home lives and were known to the authorities. Their school attendance was poor, they were often missing from home and their behaviour at times was difficult.

“The defendants were only too aware of their tender ages and the difficulties they were experiencing with day-to-day life. It was obvious that they craved the attention that their home lives and families did not provide, which made them easy prey for older men to exploit.”

The alleged sexual offences, said to be committed between 2001 and 2006, include rape, indecent assault and indecency with a child.

Mohammed Zahid, 64, of Station Road, Crumpsall, Manchester; Naheem Akram, 48, of Manley, Road, Rochdale; Mohammed Shazad, 43, of Beswicke Royds Street, Rochdale; Nisar Hussain, 43, of Newfield Close, Rochdale; Roheez Khan, 39, of Athole Street, Rochdale; Arfan Khan, 40, of Grouse Street, Rochdale; Mushtaq Ahmed, 66, of Corona Avenue, Oldham; and Kasir Bashir, 50, of Napier Street East, Oldham, all deny the charges.

The trial continues.