VIDEO: “We’re getting to some of Rotherham’s organised gangs,” says investigator

A GANG of seven men convicted of sexually abusing five girls treated their victims like “disposable assets” and have shown no remorse.
Robin Pearson, Operation Stovewood investigations managerRobin Pearson, Operation Stovewood investigations manager
Robin Pearson, Operation Stovewood investigations manager

Mohammed Imran Akhtar (37), of Godstone Road, Rotherham, Nabeel Kurshid (35), of Weetwood Road, Rotherham, Asif Ali (33), of Clough Road, Rotherham, Iqlak Yousaf (34), of Tooker Road, Rotherham, Salah El-Hakam (39), of Tudor Close, Sheffield, Tanweer Ali (37), of Godstone Road, Rotherham, and another man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were convicted at Sheffield Crown Court today following an eight-week trial.

The prosecutions were part of Operation Stovewood, the National Crime Agency’s investigation into historical child sexual exploitation in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013.

Speaking outside court today, Robin Pearson, Operation Stovewood investigations manager, said: “I’m delighted for the victims who have had the courage to give the evidence in this case.

“They were young girls at the time, children, who were groomed and abused, plied with alcohol and plied with drugs, taken to remote locations and sexually abused by predators.

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“I’m delighted that they have had the courage to speak to the agency and to come to court to give evidence in this trial.”

Mr Pearson said what linked the men was their pattern of behaviour.

“It was their general belief that the girls were disposable assets,” he said.

“This is the first (Stovewood) trial where we’ve had a large number of defendants and a large number of victims.

“Seven people have been convicted of offences today, we had five victims who have given evidence to the court and it brings the total number of people convicted under Operation Stovewood to 14.

“It’s a significant milestone in as much as we’re getting to some of the organised gangs that have been operating in Rotherham and I hope that continues. Certainly, we are at the start of this journey.”

Mr Pearson said all of the victims were young children from vulnerable backgrounds.

“They were vulnerable to the grooming techniques used by these men.

“They were plied with alcohol, plied with drugs and made to think their behaviour was normal, then they were sexually abused and passed around purely for the gratification of predators.”

Mr Pearson said none of the seven men had shown any remorse.

“None had indicated that their behaviour was out of the ordinary,” he said.

“They were simply that, they were predators, they knew exactly what they were doing, they were grooming children and getting them to believe that sexual activity was normal at their ages.

“The victims were 14, 15, 16-years-old at the time and very vulnerable and frankly their behaviour was despicable throughout.”

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