Friend of alleged Sheffield child sex abuse gang arrested in court over outburst

The man was involved in a brief scuffle with police officers and security guards after standing up and shouting, ‘You charged my friends’ from the public gallery above the courtroom.

He was told he was under arrest as he was moved out of the public gallery.

South Yorkshire Police subsequently confirmed a man in his 20s had been arrested for public order offences. Five men and one woman are accused of alleged child sexual exploitation offences against eight Sheffield girls.

They are now due to stand trial for up to six weeks from January 30 next year.

The offences are said to have occurred between 2005 and 2012.

Christopher Whiteley, aged 23, formerly of Sheffield and appearing via video link from custody, denied 12 counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault on a child under 13 and two counts of conspiracy to rape.

He also pleaded not guilty to one charge of conspiracy to cause or incite child prostitution, one charge of conspiracy to arrange or facilitate child prostitution and one count of theft.

Matthew Whiteley, aged 24, of Hackenthorpe, denied two counts of sexual activity with a child, two counts of conspiracy to rape, one count of conspiracy to arrange or facilitate child prostitution and one count of conspiracy to cause or incite child prostitution.

Shane Whiteley, 29, of Hackenthorpe, pleaded not guilty to two counts of conspiracy to rape, one count of conspiracy to arrange or facilitate child prostitution, one count of conspiracy to cause or incite child prostitution and one count of attempting to cause or incite child prostitution.

Taleb Bapir, 38, of Burngreave, pleaded not guilty to rape.

No charges were put to Andre Francis-Edge, 24, of Parson Cross.

His barrister Ian Goldsack QC is expected to make an application to dismiss the two counts Francis-Edge faces, of conspiracy to rape and conspiracy to arrange or facilitate child prostitution, at a hearing in September.

Amanda Spencer, 25, who appeared separately to the other defendants and is formerly of Rotherham, denied eight counts of aiding and abetting rape, eight counts of arranging or facilitating child prostitution, and four counts of causing or inciting child prostitution.