Rochdale men receive sentences totalling 125 years for sexually abusing teenage girls

The convictions involve crimes against eight victims aged between 13 and 23

Six of the 10 men sentenced in Rochdale sex trial: (Top row L to R): Rehan Ali, Kutab Miah and Choudry Ikhalaq Hussein. (Bottom row L to R): Mohammed Dauood, David Law and Mohammed Zahid (Greater Manchester Police)

Ten men who committed sexual offences against young girls in Rochdale have been jailed for more than 125 years.

The men’s convictions involve crimes against eight victims aged between 13 and 23, who were abused in Rochdale and the surrounding area from 2005 to 2010.

Nine of the defendants were sentenced at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on Friday, while another man was jailed last year.

An investigation into the men began after a teenage victim came forward following the 2012 convictions of a number of Asian defendants for grooming white girls for sex in the town.

The principal victim, who has learning difficulties and was described by prosecutors as an “extremely vulnerable young woman”, walked into a police station and told officers she had been repeatedly sexually groomed from the age of 14 by a large number of men in Rochdale.

The girl gave evidence in two separate trials lasting a total of 15 weeks. She said “hundreds” of men would ring her up, wanting sex.

Greater Manchester Police Handout (Top row L to R): Rehan Ali, Kutab Miah and Choudry Ikhalaq Hussein (Middle row L to R): Mohammed Dauood, David Law and Mohammed Zahid (Bottom row L to R): Afraz Ahmed, Mahfuz Rahman and Abid Khan. (Greater Manchester Police)

Seven other victims, aged between 13 and 22 at the time, also came forward to testify, securing convictions against a number of defendants.

The offenders “targeted their victims because of their age and the vulnerable situations they were in at the time”, said Alison Cartmell, senior Crown prosecutor from the CPS North West complex casework unit.

"Some of the men plied their victims with large amounts of alcohol or drugs as a way of controlling or even incapacitating them. Some used violence and threats to intimidate and coerce them into having sex.”

Judge John Potter said: "I have little doubt that each of the victims have been affected by your abuse of them to some degree, some far more than others."

He said two of the victims had suffered psychological harm.

The convictions came as a result of Operation Doublet - a police investigation into child sexual exploitation mainly in the Rochdale area - set up in the wake of the separate mass grooming trial at Liverpool.

Senior investigating officer, Det Chief Insp Jamie Daniels, said: "This was an extremely complex case and I want to commend the victims for the immense bravery they have shown; only with their support have we arrived at this point."

Afraz Ahmed, 33, of Oswald Street, Rochdale, was jailed for a total of 25 years for rape, conspiracy to rape and sexual activity with a child, in relation to five under age victims.

A 40-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was jailed for 23 years for rape and attempting to abduct a child in relation to three victims. He will serve an additional eight years on extended licence when he is released.

Choudry Ikhalaq Hussein, 38, formerly of Mayfield Terrace, Rochdale, was jailed for 19 years in his absence for rape, sexual activity with a child and conspiracy to rape. He is believed to be in Pakistan after absconding during his trial.

Rehan Ali, 27, of Cleethorpes Avenue, Blackley, was jailed for seven years and Kutab Miah, 35, of Ramsey Street, Rochdale, for nine years, both for rape and sexual activity with a child.

Abid Khan, 39, of Whitney Road, Liverpool, was jailed for six-and-a-half years and Mohammed Zahid, 55, of Croxton Avenue, Rochdale, for five years after both were found guilty of sexual activity with a child.

Mohammed Dauood, 38, of Leyland Road, Burnley, was jailed for 16 years for rape, sexual activity with a child and sexual assault, in relation to two victims.

David Law, 46, of Colmanhay Road, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, was jailed for 11 years for conspiracy to rape.

Mahfuz Rahman, 29, of HMP Garth, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to three counts of sexual activity with a child and was jailed for five-and-a-half years last September.

No evidence was put before the court that the men had acted as part of an organised gang or that they all knew each other.

Additional reporting by Press Association