Bail for six accused of Rotherham child sex offences

The six — including two brothers and two women — went before a judge at Sheffield Crown Court this morning and were bailed to appear for a directions hearing on September 7.

Arshid Hussain of High Street, East Cowick, Goole, is accused of 45 child sex offences going back more than 20 years including indecent assault, of a girl aged under 16, rape, false imprisonment and abduction.

Hussain and fellow defendants Qurban Ali (52), Majid Bostan (37), Shelley Davies (40) and Karen MacGregor (58) all face a joint charge of conspiracy to rape a girl aged under 16.

MacGregor, of Barnsley Road, Wath, and Davies, of Wainwright Road, Kimberworth Park, have been jointly charged with conspiracy to procure a woman to become a common prostitute, and both women face a separate charge of false imprisonment.

Ali, of Clough Road, Masbrough, is charged with indecent assault of a female aged under 16, rape of a female aged under 16 and procuring a female under the age of 21 to have sex with another.

Bostan, of Ledsham Road, Broom, has been charged with indecently assaulting a girl aged under 16.

All the offences relate to alleged incidents in Rotherham between 1993 and 1995.

Two addresses of Sherwood Crescent, Rotherham, and Broom Avenue, Broom, were given for another defendant, 38-year-old Sajid Bostan.

Bostan faces 11 charges including of rape, indecent assault and attempted rape between 1990 and 2001.

A judge had passed an order at Rotherham Magistrates’ Court banning publication of the defendants’ addresses - but this was lifted today at the Crown Court.

The six are expected to go on trial in December.

Police probe attack on Advertiser photographer

In tomorrow’s Rotherham Advertiser:

q How I was abused by several men a night from age 13 — and why I decided to write a book about it.

q Abuse survivors’ hope at news of arrests and inquiry revelations.

q Councillors welcome new taxi regulations — but drivers hold fresh protest.

q Rotherham MP presses No 10 over progress on new anti-abuse measures.