Sheffield grooming gang sentenced to 74 years in jail

Sheffield Crown Court heard during a nine-week trial how nine men denied raping the girl between September 7, 2010, and December 31, 2012.Prosecutor Peter Hampton said the complainant first raised the alarm in 2011, but South Yorkshire Police did not investigate until five years after they had first been informed.An older woman groomed the girl when she was 15-years-old, according to Mr Hampton, and introduced her to some of the accused.

Judge Michael Slater described how she arrived in Sheffield "lonely and friendless after being rejected by her family."

"She had been the subject of serious sexual abuse and was harbouring suicidal thoughts. She was an extremely vulnerable and troubled young girl."

The judge said she began to live on the streets and became increasingly reliant on drink and drugs.

Shangar Ibrahimi, 30, of HMP Hull, was found guilty of one count of rape.

Vanessa Saxton, for Ibrahmi, said the mother of his children doesn't want them to visit him in prison and so he is at risk of losing contact with them permanently.

He received 12 years.

Kawan Omar Ahmed, 31, of Margate Drive, Sheffield, was found guilty of two counts of rape.

He received 18 years.

Nzar Anwar, 41, of Exeter Drive, Sheffield, was found guilty of one count of rape and one count of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

He received 15 years.

Saba Mohammed, 41, of Faranden Road, Sheffield, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice

He received 4 years.

Jasim Mohammed, 38, of Maxwell Way, Sheffield, was found was found guilty of three counts of repeated offences of rape, which amounts to ten rapes over ten months.

Zaiban Alam said he was of previous good character, had been in the country for 20 years and a long sentence would hit him hard.

He received 25 years.

In a victim impact statement, the woman said: ""When I was a very young child I was sexually abused in horrific ways and this has scarred me for life.”

She said the abuse by "countless men has been devastating," and she now suffers from PTSD, depression, anxiety and emotionally unstable personality disorder, as well as sleeping problems and an eating disorder.

She said she had felt suicidal in the past and had scars from injuries she inflicted on herself.

"I was trapped by my memories of of the abuse and the rapes," she said. "I have constant flashbacks. I suffer on a daily basis because of the way my childhood was damaged by these men."

She spoke about her battle to remain in touch with her children, who are now in care.

"Police and the social services should have been looking after me. I was an innocent child and what happened to me was not fair.

"When I was crying out for help, they were not there.

"I was determined to have my voice heard because I need closure."

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