Child sex abuse trial: Men deny abusing girl at flat

The complainant told police in 2003, when she was 13, she had been picked up by Masoued Malik (32) and an Iraqi man and taken to a flat where she was forced to perform sex acts on five men, including Malik.

The girl, now 27, also told police Naeem Rafiq (33) was at the flat and she was held against her will, “like somebody was holding the bedroom door shut from the outside”.

Malik told police in 2003 he had had sex with the girl but believed she was 16.

Both men admitted being at the flat, but denied she was held against her will and abused at an ongoing trial at Sheffield Crown Court.

Six other men on trial also deny sexually exploiting her during the same time period.

Malik denies rape, false imprisonment and conspiracy to commit indecent assault and Rafiq denies conspiracy to commit indecent assault and false imprisonment.

Giving evidence, Malik said in 2003 when he was 18 to 19 years-old he used to hang around Rotherham town centre and Boots alleyway quite often.

He said at the time he was working at the KP Nuts factory and would occasionally associate with Rafiq.

Malik said he had sex with the complainant twice in 2003 and she had told him she was at college.

Giving evidence Malik and Rafiq both admitted to being in a flat with the complainant around August 2003, an Iraqi man and another man, but deny any sexual activity took place.

The jury heard a phone call was made on Rafiq’s mobile phone to the girl and Malik and the Iraqi man went to pick her up while Rafiq stayed at the flat.

Miss Michelle Colborne, prosecuting, said Malik went to pick her up as he knew the girl would get in the car if he was there because she thought at the time he was “kind” and Rafiq invited other men round “to have a turn on her”.

Miss Colborne said in his October 2003 police interview Malik said he went to pick her up because “Nemy wanted to see her” and “it was obvious sex was taking place in the flat but didn’t see it”.

Malik also told police 13 years ago that three men, including Rafiq, were in the bedroom with the girl for 30 minutes each.

Miss Colborne asked if he thought it was strange different men were going in and coming out or if he thought to check on her.

Malik said he didn’t and the girl would have said if she was uncomfortable, adding he “didn’t know what went on behind closed doors”.

Miss Colborne said: “You could hear her calling: ‘Masy’ while another man was in the room and you told her she had to ‘get on with it’ and you were all laughing at her.”

Miss Colborne said Rafiq was lying when he said no sexual activity took place at the flat and he had not engaged in any.

Rafiq said: “I’ve taken an oath, I’ve not come here to lie, I’ve come here to tell the truth.”

Miss Colborne replied: “You left the living room and went into the bedroom and it was your idea to pick the girl up.”

Rafiq responded: “No.”

All eight men on trial deny the charges. The trial continues.