Three men go on trial accused of sexually abusing two schoolgirls

THREE men accused of sexually abusing two schoolgirls in the early 2000s have gone on trial.
 

THREE men accused of sexually abusing two schoolgirls in the early 2000s has gone on trial.

Yasir Iqbal Hussain (38), of Norborough Road, Tinsley, Azad Akram Raja (38), of Adney Street, Sheffield, and Faisel Hussain (34), of Lovetot Road, Kimberworth, are on trial at Sheffield Crown Court accused of seven child sex offences.

Prosecutor Ms Jayne Beckett said the case involved the sexual abuse of two schoolgirls in the early 2000s when they could have been as young as 13 and the defendants were aged between 15 and 20.

The schoolgirls would hang around Meadowhall where they would meet older men, the court heard.

Ms Beckett said the men had "sexual relationships" with the girls, who were targeted for sexual exploitation.

Raja is accused of two counts of indecent assault against the first complainant, Girl A, between April 2001 and April 2004.

Ms Beckett said today (Tuesday) that Girl A, who is now 33, had first met older men when she was around 13.

She would babysit for a friend of her mother's and that friend would often come home with different men, who became friendly with her, said the prosecutor.

Ms Beckett said that one night, the friend had brought home a group of men whom Girl A had found quite intimidating.

The girl began seeing one of the men - Raja - regularly - and the prosecution say that he knew she was only 13 or 14.

Ms Beckett said Girl A had "gone out with" Raja for about a year.

She said they "had sex" at various locations including at Meadowhall.

Ms Beckett said Girl A was also sexually assaulted by Yasir Hussain.

Yasir Hussain is accused of one count of rape and two counts of indecent assault against the girl, between April 2001 and April 2004.

Ms Beckett said on at least one occasion, Hussain "had sex" with the girl which had started off as consensual but she had "withdrawn her consent" because he had hurt her and given her love bites.

Faisel Hussain faces two counts of indecent assault against a second girl (Girl B) between January and June 2003.

Ms Beckett said Girl B had met Hussain, also known as Fish, at Meadowhall.

She said Hussain had made the girl perform a sexual act on him and would often ask her for sexual favours.

Ms Beckett said Hussain had once sexually assaulted the girl at the back of a bus.

"The whole incident was distressing for her," she said.

Girl B told police in an interview that was played to jurors on Tuesday that she used to hang around Meadowhall with other girls and older Asian males.

"There was a few who used to constantly want [oral sex] and things - I constantly said no," she said.

"They used to get nasty - more verbal than anything.

"I never knew their proper names - one was called Shorty and one was Fish."

The prosecution allege that Fish is Faisel Hussain.

Girl B said her friend, who is the first complainant in the trial, used to "go out with" Azad Raja.

She said the man she knew as Fish was "always there" and she would see him around Rotherham as well as in Meadowhall.

"There was an incident when we were in Meadowhall," she said.

"We were upstairs near the bus station and we were sat on the seat there.

"He was asking me to do sexual things.

"I can't remember what it was.

"When I said no, he tried to steal my phone.

"He actually took my phone off me and wouldn't give it back for ages."

Asked by police why she kept returning to Meadowhall, she said: "I don't know - it was like I was drawn to it even though I hated it."

The defendants have been charged as part of the National Crime Agency's investigation into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham.

The trial continues.