Ten men accused of being part of Rochdale grooming gang to go on trial

This case has now reached the Crown Court.  From the Daily Mail

Ten men accused of being part of the Rochdale grooming gang are set to stand trial charged with sexually abusing girls as young as 13 in the early 2000s.

The men are accused of 74 offences, including rape, sexual activity with an underage girl and human trafficking within the UK for sexual exploitation. The charges relate to alleged incidents involving two teenage girls between 2003 and 2008.

Eight of the men appeared on Wednesday at a pre-trial hearing at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court. Two did not attend court due to medical issues.

They spoke only to confirm their names and no pleas were entered for the multiple horrific crimes each is charged with.

Sheraz Hussain, 39, of Cook Street, Rochdale, has been charged with 12 offences including six counts of raping a girl aged 13 to 15, and six counts of penetrative sexually activity with a child.

Khalid Mahmood, 39, of Wardle Edge, Rochdale, has been charged with rape of a woman and rape of an underage girl.

Shakeel Ahmed, 40, of Spinners Green, Rochdale has been charged with four offences including three counts of rape of an underage girl and penetrative sexual activity with an underage girl.

Mohammed Zahed, 36, of Midhurst Street, Rochdale has been charged with six counts of penetrative sexual activity with an underage girl.

Neveed Anwar, 38, of Colley Street, Rochdale has been charged with three counts of penetrative sexual activity with an underage girl.

Gulnawaz Khan, 40, of North Street, Rochdale has been charged with five offences including inciting an underage girl to commit an act of gross Indecency, two counts of rape of a girl aged 13-15, two counts of penetrative sexual activity with an underage girl.

Irfan Qurban, 43, of Innings Way, Rochdale has been charged with two counts of penetrative sexual activity with a girl.

Arshad Mohammed, 53, previously of the Milkstone and Deelish ward of Rochdale, has been charged with six offences, including meeting an underage girl following sexual grooming, two counts of rape of a girl aged 13-14, penetrative sexual activity with an underage girl, assault of an underage girl by penetration, and rape of a woman.

The two men who did not appear were Amjid Mohmood, 50, and 39-year-old Mukhtar Hussain.

Mohmood of Channing Street, Rochdale has been charged with 22 offences including seven counts of rape of underage girl, two counts of gross indecency with an underage girl, and two counts of indecent assault on an underage girl.

He was also charged with two counts of trafficking persons within the United Kingdom for sexual exploitation, five counts of penetrative sexual activity with an underage girl, two counts of assault of an underage girl by penetration, and two counts of causing or inciting an underage girl to engage in sexual activity.

Hussain of Royal Street, Rochdale has been charged with 12 offences, including two counts of gross indecency with an underage girl, five counts of rape of an underage girl, four counts of penetrative sexual activity with an underage girl and unlawful sexual intercourse with an underage girl.

Judge Maurice Green bailed all of the men, except Mohammed, and fixed the trial date for April 28, 2025. There was a time I would have worried that granted bail they would abscond. But as their cousins-in-crime due for deportation are clinging on like limpets maybe not. Living among the infidel seems to be preferable to their father’s homeland.  Or then again…?

He told them that an earlier trial date may be possible if another court was available. The men are expected to enter pleas to the charges at a hearing on March 18, 2024.

Meanwhile the current trial of Rochdale and district men accused of rape and more on young girls continues. There isn’t much reporting in public but the Crown court lists shows legal argument and witness examination daily.