https://www.manchestereveningnews.c...r-news/men-acused-using-girls-sexual-27394100
A jury has been told that eight men used two girls for their ‘sexual demands’ as defence counsel implored them not to ‘bring prejudice’ about the history of Rochdale into their deliberations.
Following a two month trial at Minshull Street Crown Court, in which eight men are accused of sexually exploiting two girls between 2002 and 2006, prosecution and defence barristers have addressed jurors in their closing speeches….
Speaking on behalf of her client, Mr Ghani, Clare Ward KC said: “Rochdale, it has been said more than once, Rochdale is a small community and everyone knows everyone. It’s small, but nationally everyone had heard of Rochdale.
“It has a terrible history, sadly the name of the town is synonymous with grooming. You have heard about a book called ‘Girl A’ and a TV series called ‘Three Girls’.
“We don’t come into this courtroom with our preconceptions and biases. You are not to bring any prejudice in consideration of what we know about the history of Rochdale.”
She added that Mr Ghani ‘does not have to prove anything’, adding that the sexual contact between him and the first complainant did not happen until she was 16.
Mohammed Ghani, 37, of Bamford Way, Rochdale, accused of 10 counts of rape, five counts of penetrative sexual activity with a child, two counts of sexual activity with a child, two counts of indecency with a child and two counts of buggery.
Insar Hussain, 36, of Bishop Street, Rochdale is accused of seven counts of rape, two counts of sexual intercourse with a child, three counts of indecency with a child, four counts of penetrative sexual activity with a child and trafficking a person for sexual exploitation.
Ikhlaq Yousef, 37, of Stanley Street, Rochdale is accused of two rapes, two counts of gross indecency with a child, two counts of penetrative sexual activity with a child and one count of causing a child to engage in sexual activity.
Jahn Shahid Ghani, 50, of Whitworth Road, Rochdale is accused of eight counts of rape, eight counts of penetrative sexual activity with a child and one count of causing a child to engage in sexual activity.
Martin Rhodes, 36, of Dinmore Avenue, Blackpool is accused of two rapes and two counts of penetrative sexual activity with a child.
Ali Razza Hussain Kasmi, 34, of Brotherod Hall Road, Rochdale is accused of two counts of rape, two of indecency with a child and two of penetrative sexual activity with a child.
Aftar Khan, 33, of Sparth Bottoms Road, Rochdale is accused of three rapes, three counts of indecency with a child and two counts of penetrative sexual activity with a child.
Mohammed Iqbal, 67, of Gainsborough Drive, Rochdale, charged with two counts of paying for sexual services of a girl under the age of 18….
A jury has been told that eight men used two girls for their ‘sexual demands’ as defence counsel implored them not to ‘bring prejudice’ about the history of Rochdale into their deliberations.
Following a two month trial at Minshull Street Crown Court, in which eight men are accused of sexually exploiting two girls between 2002 and 2006, prosecution and defence barristers have addressed jurors in their closing speeches….
Speaking on behalf of her client, Mr Ghani, Clare Ward KC said: “Rochdale, it has been said more than once, Rochdale is a small community and everyone knows everyone. It’s small, but nationally everyone had heard of Rochdale.
“It has a terrible history, sadly the name of the town is synonymous with grooming. You have heard about a book called ‘Girl A’ and a TV series called ‘Three Girls’.
“We don’t come into this courtroom with our preconceptions and biases. You are not to bring any prejudice in consideration of what we know about the history of Rochdale.”
She added that Mr Ghani ‘does not have to prove anything’, adding that the sexual contact between him and the first complainant did not happen until she was 16.
Mohammed Ghani, 37, of Bamford Way, Rochdale, accused of 10 counts of rape, five counts of penetrative sexual activity with a child, two counts of sexual activity with a child, two counts of indecency with a child and two counts of buggery.
Insar Hussain, 36, of Bishop Street, Rochdale is accused of seven counts of rape, two counts of sexual intercourse with a child, three counts of indecency with a child, four counts of penetrative sexual activity with a child and trafficking a person for sexual exploitation.
Ikhlaq Yousef, 37, of Stanley Street, Rochdale is accused of two rapes, two counts of gross indecency with a child, two counts of penetrative sexual activity with a child and one count of causing a child to engage in sexual activity.
Jahn Shahid Ghani, 50, of Whitworth Road, Rochdale is accused of eight counts of rape, eight counts of penetrative sexual activity with a child and one count of causing a child to engage in sexual activity.
Martin Rhodes, 36, of Dinmore Avenue, Blackpool is accused of two rapes and two counts of penetrative sexual activity with a child.
Ali Razza Hussain Kasmi, 34, of Brotherod Hall Road, Rochdale is accused of two counts of rape, two of indecency with a child and two of penetrative sexual activity with a child.
Aftar Khan, 33, of Sparth Bottoms Road, Rochdale is accused of three rapes, three counts of indecency with a child and two counts of penetrative sexual activity with a child.
Mohammed Iqbal, 67, of Gainsborough Drive, Rochdale, charged with two counts of paying for sexual services of a girl under the age of 18….
