Rotherham sex abuse trial: Babies born as result of attacks on vulnerable girls by grooming ring, court hears

Arshid Hussain, 40, is alleged to have played a 'key role' in a Rotherham grooming gang. Picture: PA

Five men and two women have gone on trial accused of roles in the sexual exploitation of children in the South Yorkshire town over a period of more than 10 years.

Sheffield Crown Court heard two of the 12 alleged victims have had babies which they say were conceived when being abused, while a number of others had abortions after being made pregnant.

Prince of Wales Hotel, on Princes Street, Masbrough, where a girl was allegedly raped which resulted in her becoming pregnant. Picture: Andrew Roe

Alleged victim ‘recognised local politician at brothel house’

It is alleged some of the victims were trafficked to Sheffield for abuse by multiple groups of Asian men, while an unnamed local politician was also implicated in being involved in the sexual exploitation of one victim.

A jury was told victims were repeatedly raped, beaten, passed between abusers and used as prostitutes.

Prosecutor Michelle Colborne QC said it is alleged defendant Arshid Hussain played a ‘key role’ in the grooming ring, assisted by his brother Basharat, uncle Qurban Ali and associates Karen MacGregor, Shelley Davies and brothers Sajid and Majid Bostan.

The defendants deny a total of 63 charges between them.

Ms Colborne said one of the complainants who was abused from the age of 11 was alleged raped by Arshid Hussain and Sajid Bostan in a room above the Prince of Wales pub in Masbrough when she was 20 and believes the son she later gave birth to was conceived in the attack.

Another alleged victim was said to have been made pregnant by Arshid Hussain when she was 14 but she had a termination after the defendant allegedly told her she couldn’t keep the baby or he would be sent to prison.

Ms Colborne said the girl was placed into foster care after a police protection order was made due to her being in ‘moral and physical danger’ but she was made pregnant by him again when she was 15, giving birth to a baby in 2001.

In the case of another complainant, Ms Colborne told the jury that the girl who was 13 or 14 at the time was persuaded to terminate a pregnancy conceived with Arshid Hussain after one of his brothers told her ‘Ash had children with seven English women already’.

The trial continues.