Jury retires to consider verdicts in Rotherham abuse trial

The men have been on trial at Sheffield Crown Court for six weeks for offences alleged to have taken place between 1998 and 2002.

Abid Saddiq (38), of Walter Street, Masbrough, is accused of nine offences between 1998 to 2002 against seven girls. He faces two counts of rape, five counts of indecent assault and two counts of child abduction (jointly charged with Defendant 6).

Sharaz Hussain (34), of Fitzwilliam Road, Eastwood, is accused of four counts of indecent assault against two girls in 2002.

Masaued Malik (34), is accused of three counts of indecent assault against two girls between 1999 and 2002.

Aftab Hussain (40), of York Road, Rotherham, is accused of two counts of indecent assault against one girl between 2000 and 2002.

Defendant 5, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is accused of one count of rape and three counts of indecent assault between 2001 and 2002 against one girl.

Defendant 6, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is charged with two counts of child abduction against two girls in 2002, jointly charged with Abid Saddiq. He is also accused of indecently assaulting another girl between 2000 and 2001.

The charges have all been brought as part of the National Crime Agency’s Operation Stovewood investigation.