The widespread abuse of girls in a number of English towns and cities, including Rochdale, Rotherham and Oldham, which emerged more than a decade ago, has long caused controversy. A series of lawsuits ultimately led to the conviction of dozens of men, many of them of South Asian descent. The victims were vulnerable, mainly white girls. A series of official investigations into the failure of police and social workers to stop abuse found that in some cases officials turned a blind eye to avoid appearing racist.
According to the BBC, It was recently revealed at a hearing that eight alleged predators accused of raping and sexually exploiting two 13-year-old girls in Rochdale “abused, humiliated and discarded” them in an “appalling” manner.
Eight men have been tried for 56 sexual offences, including grooming, sexually exploiting and raping the two 13-year-olds between 2001 and 2006.
Jurors at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court were told the girls had been 'passed for sex' by the gang, led by market trader Mohammed Zahid, known to the girls as 'Bossman'.
Mohammed Zahid, Kashir Bashir, Mushtaq Ahmed, Roheez Khan, Mohammed Shahzad, Nisar Hussain, Naheem Akram and Arfhan Khan deny all allegations against them.
The court was told they had to have sex in “filthy flats and on rancid mattresses”, and other times in “cars, car parks, alleys or disused warehouses”.
“The girls were expected to have sex with these men and others wherever and whenever the men wanted.”
(With input from AFP)