ASLAM, JOHN, AND AHMED SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX GANG IN AYLESBURY AND LUTON

In a harrowing case that has shocked the communities of Aylesbury, Luton, and High Wycombe, three men involved in a disturbing child sex grooming and abuse ring have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms. The crimes, which spanned several years and involved the exploitation of a vulnerable teenage girl, were brought to light after a detailed investigation by Thames Valley Police.

On Saturday, the court handed down sentences of up to 19 years to the convicted men, following their convictions for a series of heinous offenses committed in the towns of High Wycombe, Aylesbury, and Wendover. The sentencing was marked by an emotionally charged victim impact statement from the now 32-year-old woman, who revealed the lasting scars of her traumatic experiences. She described her ongoing struggles with alcohol addiction and depression, which she attributes directly to the abuse she endured as a child.

The jury found one of the men guilty of grooming her from the age of 13, while the other two were convicted of raping her during her teenage years. Each of the men received a sentence of up to 19 years in prison. The victim, who was introduced to her abusers at a very young age, was driven into a life of drug dependency and sexual exploitation, with her traffickers using her as a commodity for almost nightly sexual encounters with multiple adult men.

According to court proceedings, the girl was often picked up from her school by a taxi driver and taken to rented flats where she was repeatedly abused. When she sought help from the police, she was met with dismissiveness, told that more evidence was needed, and was made to feel as though she was being asked to relive her trauma to prove her case. This dismissive attitude compounded her sense of helplessness and fear.

Judge Johanna Cutts, presiding at Reading Crown Court, detailed the horrific timeline of events. She explained that the girl was first introduced to her abusers at just 13 years old. Berkley John, a taxi driver from Aylesbury in his late 50s, was the first to prey on her vulnerability. John, who was a stranger to the girl, told her he loved her and expressed a desire to marry her once she turned 16. He then took her to Saeed Ahmed’s flat, also in Aylesbury, where she was introduced to cannabis. Over time, her addiction deepened, and John began forcing her to perform oral sex on him as a form of payment.

The abuse escalated further when John supplied her with heroin and coerced her into having sex with him and other men in Ahmed’s flat. While Ahmed, aged 51, was aware of the illicit activities taking place in his property, he did not participate in the sexual acts. The court heard that the victim’s ordeal intensified just before her 16th birthday when she refused to have sex with one of Ahmed’s friends, Mohammad Aslam, a 59-year-old man from Aylesbury. Aslam, who knew the girl was underage—evidenced by her school uniform and her being driven back to school—reacted violently and raped her.

Judge Cutts condemned Aslam for his actions, emphasizing that he had revealed his true nature through his violent assault. She pointed out that Aslam’s intentions were clear: he sought to have sex with a child, and even after she turned 16, he showed no interest in stopping his predatory behavior. The judge described the crimes as inexcusable and highlighted the profound and lasting impact on the victim, who displayed remarkable strength and courage in recounting her ordeal.

In her victim impact statement, read aloud by prosecution counsel Helena Duong, the woman described how John exploited her vulnerability, viewing her as a lost child he could manipulate. She recounted how heroin was fed to her by her abusers to keep her compliant and how they turned her into someone who believed her only worth was in selling her body. She expressed her deep pain, stating, “They will never be able to take back what they have done to me. They turned me into someone who the only thing I am good for is selling my body. I was a child that was turned into an adult in a little child’s body.”

She also revealed her ongoing struggles with severe depression and alcohol addiction, which have led to the loss of her children. Despite her trauma, she showed resilience, and the court acknowledged her bravery in coming forward.

During the trial, John, now 76 years old, offered an apology to the victim but maintained his innocence regarding the charges. He was convicted of multiple counts, including conspiracy to rape a girl under 16, raping a girl under 16, and conspiracy to indecently assault a girl under 16. His sentence was set at 15 and a half years. Aslam, also from Aylesbury, was found guilty of similar offenses, including conspiracy to rape and multiple counts of rape, and received a sentence of 17 years. Ahmed, from Luton, was convicted of allowing his property to be used for unlawful sexual activities involving a girl aged between 13 and 15, as well as procuring a female under 21 for sexual purposes, and was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

All three men were arrested in December 2015, following an investigation that was rekindled after the victim was approached by Thames Valley Police two years earlier to revisit her case. The court ordered that the sentences be served immediately. Additionally, John and Aslam will be registered as sex offenders for life and will be subject to a sexual offence prevention order, ensuring ongoing restrictions to prevent further harm.

This case underscores the importance of persistent law enforcement efforts and the courage of victims who come forward to seek justice against such heinous crimes. The community is left to reflect on the devastating impact of child exploitation and the necessity of vigilance to protect vulnerable children from predators.