Eight men face jail over child sexual exploitation in Rotherham

A month-long trial at Sheffield Crown Court heard how the men 'sexualised' their victims and, in some cases, subjected them to acts of a 'degrading and violent nature'.

Michelle Colborne QC, prosecuting said the court case was about three victims 'who were sexualised and, in some instances, subjected to acts of a degrading and violent nature at the hands of these men'.

She said Sageer Hussain played a 'key role' and was 'instrumental in befriending young girls who were flattered that he and his friends spent time with them'.

They were then exploited by Hussain, his friends and associates, jurors were told.

Hussain, aged 30, of Clough Road, Rotherham, was convicted of four rapes and one indecent assault.

Mohammed Whied, 32, of Psalters Lane, Rotherham, was found guilty of one count of aiding and abetting rape.

Ishtiaq Khaliq, 33, of Cherry Brook, Rotherham, was found guilty of one rape and three indecent assaults.

Waleed Ali, 34, of Canklow Road, Rotherham, was found guilty of one rape and one indecent assault.

Asif Ali, 30, of Clough Road, Rotherham, was convicted of one rape.

Masoued Malik, 32, of Bridgewater Way, Rotherham, was found guilty of one rape, one count of conspiracy to commit indecent assault and one of false imprisonment.

Basharat Hussain, 40, from Goole, was convicted of one indecent assault.

And Naeem Rafiq, 33, of Clarendon Road, Rotherham, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit indecent assault and one of false imprisonment.

An official inquiry into exploitation in Rotherham in 2014 by Professor Alexis Jay concluded that at least 1,400 children had been raped, trafficked and attacked between 1997 and 2013 by gangs of largely Asian men, and that the victims were effectively ignored.

Speaking after the verdicts last month, Detective Chief Inspector Martin Tate said: "The verdicts are of massive importance to the young women who have come forward to report years of horrific sexual abuse at the hands of these criminals.

"They had to endure what no child should and have shown remarkable bravery throughout our inquiry."

He said: "I am so grateful to these women, many of whom remain incredibly vulnerable, for offering their support to our investigative team and I am so pleased that their voices have been heard and their abusers have been held to account for their vile crimes."