Three men, including Rotherham brothers, found guilty of raping teenage girl
And, The Star can now reveal, two of the defendants are still on the run from the NCA for their crimes
Two brothers and a third man who between them groomed, trafficked and repeatedly raped a “vulnerable” teenage girl in Rotherham 15 years ago have been found guilty.
The complainant - now aged in her 30s - was aged 13 to 14 when she was separately groomed and raped by Mudasar Hussain, 36, his brother Ghazanfar Hussain, 40, and Khamir Khan, 36, between 2008 and 2010.
The three men denied any wrongdoing, claiming the years of sexual abuse, plying her with cannabis, and offering her up as a “favour” to other males was either consensual or a case of mistaken identity.
But at Sheffield Crown Court today (November 12), a jury unanimously found the three guilty on all counts.
And, The Star can now reveal two of the defendants - Mudasar Hussain and Khamir Khan - are on the run and did not attend the trial to answer for their crimes.
Rotherham CSE
Drug dealer Mudasar Hussain, of Henley Grove Road, Bradgate, who met the girl when she was 13 before grooming her with cannabis and alcohol before repeatedly abusing her, was today convicted of 12 counts of rape.
His brother, Ghazanfar Hussain, of Rosebery Street, Bradgate, drove her to a garage in Tinsley in April 2009 where he forced her to commit a sex act in a vehicle inspection pit. He was today convicted of one count of rape.
Her Honour Judge Sarah Wright said while he did not groom and manipulate the victim in the same way as Mudasar or Khan, Ghazanfar also took advantage of her when the opportunity presented itself.
Finally was Kamir, Khan, of no fixed abode, who abused the teenager over the course of seven months and would offer her up to other males as a “favour”. He was found guilty of two counts of rape and one count of trafficking of a person in the UK for sexual exploitation.
The defendants’ family members left the court weeping as the verdicts were returned.
The three will be sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday morning (November 13).
Operation Stovewood
All three men were arrested as part of Operation Stovewood, a National Crime Agency investigation into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013.
Melissa Garner, Specialist Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Mudasar Hussain and Kamir Khan separately groomed a young and vulnerable girl with alcohol, drugs and gifts.
“They raped her multiple times between 2008 and 2010 at various locations around Rotherham. Ghazanfar Hussain was quick to take advantage of the vulnerable victim when the opportunity presented itself.
“Their abuse has caused the victim serious and lifelong harm.
“These defendants have now been convicted of their horrific and appalling crimes. I want to recognise the victim for her strength throughout this case. Her determination in seeing this case through has been crucial in bringing these offenders to justice.”
On the run
The Star can now reveal Mudasar Hussain and Kamir Khan are on the run and did not attend the trial to answer for their crimes. Only Ghazanfar Hussain stood in the dock.
The two rapists were convicted - and tomorrow will be sentenced - in their absence.
Philip Marshall, Head of Operation Stovewood, said: “The victim has shown tremendous courage in reporting the predatory grooming, exploitation and sustained sexual abuse these men subjected her to as a child.
“Mudasar Hussain and Kamir Khan have attempted to avoid justice but my officers are determined to find the men.
“Officers have been working with partners, pursuing numerous lines of enquiry in the UK and overseas, to locate them.
“I am now appealing for anyone with information that could help our enquiries, no matter how insignificant that information may appear, to report it.”