Jury reconvenes in trial of former peer accused of sexually abusing children

JURORS in the case of a former peer accused of sexually abusing two children almost 50 years ago have reconvened after more than two weeks to consider their verdicts.

Nazir Ahmed (64) is on trial at Sheffield Crown Court accused of four offences dating back to the early 1970s.

Jurors in the case heard four weeks of evidence and had retired to consider their verdicts on Friday, December 10, but after a day-and-a-half of deliberations, one jurortested positive for Covid-19 and a second was reported to have had an adverse reaction to a Covid vaccine.

The jury was formally sent home for the Christmas break on December 16.

All 12 jurors have returned today to continue their deliberations.

Ahmed, of East Bawtry Road, Rotherham, is accused of sexually assaulting a boy between 1971 and 1972 and of attempting to rape a girl between 1973 and 1974.

The former Rotherham councillor denies buggery, indecent assault and two counts of attempted rape.

The former Labour peer’s brothers, Mohammed Farouq (71) and Mohammed Tariq (65), have also been accused of assault but have been deemed not fit to plead on health grounds.

Farouq and Tariq faced a trial of the facts and the jury has been asked to determine whether they did the acts they are accused of.

Tariq, of Gerard Road, Rotherham, faces two counts of indecent assault between 1970 and 1972 and Farouq, of Worrygoose Lane, Rotherham, faces four counts of indecent assault between 1968 and 1972.