‘Sex slave’ could have been abused by more than 200 men, court hears

The trial continues. From the Manchester Evening News

An alleged ‘sex slave’ of a group of men in Rochdale has told a jury she could have been abused by more than 200 offenders but ‘there was that many it was hard to keep count’.

The complainant, Girl A, says she was targeted in the town from the age of 13, with her phone number swapped by many of her abusers. Eight men are on trial at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court accused of preying on the vulnerabilities of Girl A and a second complainant, Girl B, also from the age of 13.

Jurors were previously told that Girl A had blamed herself for the sexual activity but said she now realised it was the fault of her abusers and she was “just a kid who knew no different”.

Girl A agreed with Imran Khan, representing Naheem Akram, one of the eight defendants, that she initially told the police in 2015 that “about 100 men” had sexually exploited her. She later provided a list containing 41 names to the police, the court heard.

Girl A agreed with Imran Khan, representing Naheem Akram, one of the eight defendants, that she initially told the police in 2015 that “about 100 men” had sexually exploited her.

Mr Khan said: “Were you under any sort of pressure to come up with names because you told police you had 100 people?”

“No,” Girl A replied.

Mr Khan said: “Yesterday you said there were probably 200.”

Girl A told the court: “There could have been more to be fair. There was that many it was hard to keep count.”

She denied she used Facebook to help draw up her list of names.

The eight defendants – who were market traders or taxi drivers at the time – deny various sexual offences, including rape, indecent assault and conspiracy to commit indecency with a child, said to have been committed between 2001 and 2006.

On Tuesday (March 4), jurors … heard the complainant, Girl A, was awarded a total of £27,500 from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority in the summer of 2018 after two Asian men – not involved in the present trial – pleaded guilty to sexually abusing her.

Girl A, giving evidence from behind a screen, said police advised her to make a second claim involving a further 50 men she said had committed sexual offences against her when she was a child.

Lisa Wilding QC, cross-examining, said . . .  “Do you agree that in your mind the more people you were ‘getting done’, the higher the payout?” “No,” replied Girl A. . . The complainant then replied: “I thought I would buy a car, buy a house and move away and live happily ever after.

Ms Wilding said: “You have also over the years discussed the fact that when this case is over you want to go on the telly.”

Girl A said: “I did, yes. I don’t want to any more. I thought it was a clever idea ‘let’s go on the telly, tell the world everything’. I was in la la land. I don’t want my face out there, hence the screen. I don’t want my name out there, hence the anonymity.

“I don’t want these people abusing little girls. They ruined me. I have got daughters and nieces and I don’t want them ruining their lives.”

Ms Wilding said: “On behalf of Mohammed Zahid, I suggest the account of things you say he has done to you is not accurate or truthful.” Girl A replied: “Well you are full of cack.”

Ms Wilding put it to the complainant that she decided to ‘add him in the mix’ when she outlined the details of her abuse claims to police in 2015 and 2016.  “I suggest that you decided to make him be a person on your list to bolster your claim.”

Girl A said: “I put him on the list because he abused me.”