"The girls, who did not know each other, were both 13 years old when the abuse began. Prosecutors presented evidence that the victims, both from troubled family backgrounds, were initially offered gifts, money, and places to stay. The abuse escalated as they were taken to various locations across the town, where they were given alcohol and drugs before being sexually assaulted by the members of the group."
"Both victims provided impact statements during the three-day sentencing hearing. One described how the abuse had affected every aspect of her life, from her physical and mental health to her ability to form relationships. The other said that, at the time, she believed all men would expect sex from her and urged other victims to come forward regardless of how much time had passed."
Seven men received prison terms of 12 to 35 years for the systematic sexual abuse of two teenage girls in Rochdale between 2001 and 2006. Mohammed Zahid, 65, a market trader and ringleader, received the longest sentence after convictions for multiple counts of rape and other sexual offences. Six other men, aged 39 to 67, were convicted following a four-month trial. The victims were both 13 when the abuse began and came from troubled family backgrounds. Prosecutors said the men offered gifts, money and places to stay, then escalated the abuse with alcohol and drugs across multiple locations. Both victims gave impact statements detailing lifelong physical and mental harm. Local authorities and Greater Manchester Police acknowledged failures to protect the victims and the case forms part of ongoing historical child exploitation proceedings.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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