A group of men of Asian descent have collectively received prison sentences totaling 174 years after being found guilty of sexually abusing two white schoolgirls, who were exploited as ‘sex slaves’ starting from the age of 13. The ringleader, Mohammed Zahid, 65, a father of three, was sentenced to 35 years. He was among seven men convicted in June at Manchester Minshull Street Court for a series of sexual offenses committed against the victims between 2001 and 2006.
This case marked the first time an Asian grooming gang was held accountable following years of criticism directed at the Labour government for allegedly suppressing calls for a public inquiry into systemic failures by police and social services that allowed such abuse to continue unchecked. Prosecutors revealed that both girls, coming from deeply troubled backgrounds, were manipulated with drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, accommodation, and companionship, only to be coerced into sexual acts at the perpetrators’ will. These abuses took place in squalid flats, on filthy mattresses, inside vehicles, car parks, alleyways, and abandoned warehouses.
The court also heard disturbing testimony about one girl, who was residing in a children’s home at the time, being callously dismissed by social workers who labeled her as a ‘prostitute’ from the age of ten. Girl A testified that her phone number was circulated among more than 200 offenders, making it difficult to keep track of all those who exploited her.
Girl B recounted how she was targeted while living in a local children’s home by Zahid and other market traders, Mushtaq Ahmed, 67, and Kasir Bashir, 50, all originally from Pakistan. She believed that various agencies were aware of the abuse, as police frequently picked her up after social workers had branded her a ‘prostitute’ from a young age. Zahid brazenly visited the care home to collect and return her, convinced he was ‘almost untouchable,’ the court was told.
Zahid was found guilty of repeatedly raping both girls, who were strangers to each other, as well as charges of indecency with a child and procuring a child for sexual activity. Previously, in 2016, he had been sentenced to five years for engaging in sexual acts with a 14-year-old girl he met at his market stall, where she had come to buy school tights. He was among several men who contacted her unexpectedly and groomed the vulnerable teenager.
Ahmed and Bashir received sentences of 27 and 29 years respectively after being convicted of multiple counts of rape and indecency with a child related to Girl B. Bashir was sentenced in absentia after fleeing while on bail before the trial commenced and is believed to have left the country.
Three taxi drivers from Rochdale-Mohammed Shahzad, 44, Naheem Akram, 49, and Nisar Hussain, 41-were also convicted of multiple rapes against Girl A. Shahzad and Akram were each sentenced to 26 years, while Hussain received 19 years. Roheez Khan, 39, also from Rochdale, was sentenced to 12 years for a single rape charge involving Girl A.
Both police and social services have issued apologies for their previous failures in protecting the victims. During sentencing, Judge Jonathan Seely emphasized the girls’ vulnerability and troubled backgrounds, noting that they were well known to authorities yet were repeatedly abused by numerous men. He described how the victims were “passed around for sex-abused, humiliated, degraded, and then discarded,” and condemned the systemic neglect that allowed this to happen.
The judge highlighted the particularly egregious failure in Girl B’s case, referencing a social services report that chillingly described her as having prostituted herself at just ten years old. He acknowledged the relentless abuse both girls endured and the predatory nature of the gangs involved.
Prosecutor Rossano Scarmardella KC characterized Zahid as “brazen” and “feeling almost untouchable.” He explained that despite the girls being well known to social services and other agencies, and the widespread knowledge of their exploitation by older men, no reports were made to the police, and no effective intervention occurred.
The horrific crimes only came to light in 2015 when one of the victims, who was also exploited by another grooming gang, reported the abuse to the police. In a victim impact statement, Girl A described how the abuse “destroyed” her life and stole her childhood, stating, “I meant nothing to these men-they used me for their own gain. They didn’t care about the lasting damage to my life, only their own gratification.”
Girl B’s statement detailed the “horrific” experience and how her life has been “on hold” for two decades. She expressed how the abuse not only affected her but also her children, who have become indirect victims of the trauma inflicted by these men.
Liz Fell, specialist prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service’s Organised Child Sexual Abuse Unit, remarked on the resilience of the victims throughout the protracted legal process. She stressed the far-reaching impact of child sexual abuse and praised the collaborative efforts between the CPS and Greater Manchester Police in assembling a robust case that led to the convictions.
Fell urged anyone facing similar abuse to come forward, assuring that authorities are committed to prosecuting offenders and supporting victims throughout the process.
Following sentencing, Sharon Hubber, director of children’s services at Rochdale Borough Council, acknowledged the council’s progress since the failures over a decade ago. She highlighted improvements in safeguarding practices and responses to child sexual exploitation, recognized in every Ofsted inspection since 2014. Hubber reaffirmed the council’s dedication to protecting and supporting victims and survivors, emphasizing that complacency is not an option.
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