Girl sexually abused by six men suffered “catalogue of trauma”

A WOMAN who was abused by six men - who were sentenced to a total of 101 years in prison today - suffered a “catalogue of trauma” as a child.

The woman, who is now in her 30s, was raped and sexually abused by gang ringleader Mohammed Imran Akhtar, along with his associates Nabeel Kurshid, Asif Ali, Iqlak Yousaf, Salah El-Hakam and Tanweer Ali.

During today's sentencing, Ms Michele Colborne, prosecuting, said: “Your Honour saw a psychologist’s assessment describing the catalogue of trauma she endured as a child and the impact on her of abuse at a very young age.”

Another girl, who was abused by Akhtar, said in a statement that she was left feeling “devastated” by the abuse.

“I have been exploited by so many men in my life,” she said.

“I feel like I’m constantly fighting to get justice for what they did to me.”

Her sister, who was also abused by Akhtar, said in a statement that she had believed for many years that he was the father of her son – which was later proven to be incorrect by a DNA test.

She said: “It’s very difficult for him [my son] to come to terms with the fact that he was the product of me being groomed as a child.

“This has caused huge problems with my relationship with him over the years.”

The woman said she was now over-protective towards her own children.

“I believe I lost part of my childhood, or rather, had it taken from me by others,” she said.

Another victim, who was sexually abused by Iqlak Yousaf when she was aged between 14 and 15, had been groomed before meeting him, said Ms Colborne.

Ms Colborne said all the girls were targeted as victims of child sexual exploitation by the men.

A fifth girl, who was raped in Sherwood Forest by Nabeel Kurshid and Iqlak Yousaf when she was 14 or 15, was told by Kurshid that she would have to “do as she was told”, Ms Colborne said.

She said in a statement read to the court: “They made me think that abusive behaviour was normal in a relationship.

“Due to them I wasn’t able to recognise and stop the further exploitation that I suffered.”