MOHAMMED ZAHID AND ROCHDALE GANG FOUND GUILTY IN SHOCKING SEXUAL EXPLOITATION CASE

In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Rochdale, seven men have been convicted of heinous crimes involving the sexual exploitation of two teenage girls over a span of five years. The victims, identified in court as Girl A and Girl B, endured repeated rape and assault from the men, who systematically groomed them from the tender age of 13. The trial revealed a disturbing pattern of abuse, with the offenders treating the girls as 'sex slaves,' expecting to have their way with them whenever and wherever they pleased, as detailed during the proceedings at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.

Girl A testified that she believed she could have been targeted by over 200 men throughout her ordeal, highlighting the extent of her victimization. Meanwhile, Girl B disclosed that social workers had considered her a 'prostitute' from the age of just 10, underscoring the neglect and failure of protective services at the time. Both girls came from troubled home environments, and their exploitation was facilitated through manipulation involving drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes. The men responsible often provided them with shelter, with some working on Rochdale's bustling market or as taxi drivers, further entrenching their control over the victims.

The prosecution painted a grim picture of the victims as 'children passed around for sex, abused, degraded, and then discarded,' emphasizing that they had been reduced to 'sex slaves.' Girl A recounted how her phone number was exchanged with numerous individuals, making it difficult to keep track of her abusers. She also revealed that in 2004, she had informed local children's services that she was 'hanging around' with groups of older men, drinking alcohol, and taking cannabis. Girl B, who was placed in a children’s home at the time, expressed her frustration that police and social workers were aware of her situation but failed to intervene adequately. She disclosed that she had been picked up by police for loitering and engaging in prostitution from the age of 10.

Among those convicted were Mohammed Zahid, aged 64, Mushtaq Ahmed, aged 67, and Kasir Bashir, aged 50. All three were market stallholders in Rochdale. Zahid, known locally as 'Boss Man,' was found to have given free underwear from his lingerie stall to the girls, who did not know each other. Notably, Zahid had a prior conviction, having served five years in prison in 2016 for a grooming case related to a 2006 incident involving a 15-year-old girl he met at his stall. Kasir Bashir did not attend the trial, having absconded while on bail. The other three defendants—Mohammed Shahzad, aged 44, Naheem Akram, aged 48, and Nisar Hussain, aged 41—were detained in custody in January after police intelligence suggested they planned to leave the UK, having paid deposits for transportation. All three were convicted of multiple counts of rape against Girl A, with Shahzad, Akram, and Hussain receiving guilty verdicts. An eighth defendant, Arfan Khan, aged 41, was acquitted due to insufficient evidence.

Following the verdicts, Detective Superintendent Alan Clitherow of Greater Manchester Police expressed regret over the police response at the time, describing the handling of the victims as 'indefensible and inexcusable.' He admitted that authorities had access to information that could have been used to prevent the abuse but failed to act accordingly. Clitherow issued a formal apology and highlighted the improvements made in investigation procedures. This case is part of Operation Lytton, an ongoing investigation into historical child sexual exploitation in Rochdale, which has so far resulted in 32 convictions. It follows a previous inquiry known as Operation Doublet, and several more trials are scheduled for September.

Liz Fell from the Crown Prosecution Service emphasized that the men targeted vulnerable children, grooming them for sexual gratification, and that the treatment the victims endured was 'nothing short of appalling.' She reaffirmed the CPS and police's commitment to relentless prosecution of such crimes, sending a clear message that justice will be pursued without hesitation. Rochdale Borough Council’s director of children’s services, Sharon Hubber, expressed hope that the convictions would bring some measure of closure for the victims. She acknowledged that more could and should have been done in the past and offered sincere regret for the failures. The NSPCC highlighted the severity of this 'appalling, ruthless exploitation,' stressing the importance of children speaking out and adults recognizing grooming signs. They warned that the long-lasting effects of child sexual abuse can be devastating. The sentencing date for those convicted has yet to be announced.