Seven men have been convicted of using two teenage girls as “sex slaves” in a major child exploitation case that has concluded at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester. The defendants were found guilty on 53 sexual offences believed to have occurred between 2001 and 2006, following a 72-day trial that lasted approximately four months.

The court heard testimony from two victims, now adults in their thirties, who described systematic abuse that began when they were just 13 years old. One victim testified that social services in Rochdale had labeled her a “prostitute” when allegations against the men first emerged, highlighting failures in the system designed to protect vulnerable children.

Evidence presented during the trial revealed that both victims were groomed and forced to engage in sexual acts with the defendants “whenever and wherever” they demanded. The abuse occurred in degrading conditions including on soiled mattresses, in car parks, and in alleyways throughout Rochdale and surrounding areas.

The victims were provided with drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes by their abusers as part of the grooming process. The court also heard that the girls were introduced to taxi drivers for further sexual exploitation, demonstrating the organized nature of the abuse network.

Mohammed Zahid, 64, of Station Road, Crumpsall, Manchester, emerged as a central figure in the exploitation ring. Known to victims as “Boss Man,” Zahid operated a market stall and used offers of free lingerie to lure the teenage girls. He was convicted of 20 offences including rape, indecency with a child, and attempting to procure a girl for unlawful sexual intercourse.

Kasir Bashir, 50, of Napier Street East, Oldham, was convicted in his absence and is now wanted by authorities. He was found guilty of four offences including rape and indecency with a child. His current whereabouts remain unknown to law enforcement.

Mushtaq Ahmed, 67, of Corona Avenue, Oldham, was convicted of nine offences including rape and indecency with a child. The court heard evidence of his repeated abuse of both victims over the five-year period covered by the charges.

Four additional defendants received convictions for their roles in the exploitation network. Roheez Khan, 39, of Athole Street, Rochdale, was found guilty of rape. Mohammed Shahzad, 44, of Beswicke Royds Street, Rochdale, was convicted of six offences including rape and assault by penetration. Nisar Hussain, 41, of Newfield Close, Rochdale, was found guilty of three offences including rape and assault by penetration. Naheem Akram, 48, of Manley Road, Rochdale, was convicted of seven offences including rape and assault by penetration.

All seven defendants had denied any wrongdoing throughout the investigation and trial proceedings. The jury delivered unanimous guilty verdicts on Friday following three weeks of deliberations, bringing the lengthy legal process to a conclusion.

Detective Chief Inspector Guy Laycock, the senior investigating officer, described the case as “complex” and revealed that investigators devoted “thousands of hours” to building the prosecution case. He emphasized the crucial role played by the two survivors in securing the convictions.

“They have been pivotal in bringing these abusers to long-awaited justice by bravely giving painful and difficult testimony during a four-month trial,” Laycock stated. “Without them this would not be possible, and today is about them.”

The detective characterized the defendants’ behavior as predatory, stating they “preyed on vulnerability for their own depraved sexual gain.” He described how the men “abused, degraded and then discarded the victims when they were just children,” noting that the abuse “knew no limits” despite consistent denials from the defendants.

Laycock criticized the convicted men’s lack of remorse, saying they showed “callous disregard for these women when they were girls, and continue to show no remorse for their unforgivable actions all these years later.”

This case represents part of broader efforts to address historical child exploitation in Rochdale and Greater Manchester. According to Greater Manchester Police, a total of 32 offenders have been sentenced to a combined 300 years in prison as part of two major investigations conducted over the past decade.

The legal proceedings are far from over, with an additional 20 men scheduled to face trial in connection with related charges. Their court date has been set for September 2025, indicating that the full scope of the exploitation network may extend beyond the seven men convicted in this case.

The convictions come years after the abuse occurred, highlighting the challenges faced by survivors in coming forward and the complex nature of investigating historical child exploitation cases. The successful prosecution demonstrates the commitment of law enforcement to pursue justice regardless of the time elapsed since the offences were committed.

The case has drawn attention to the ongoing need for improved safeguarding measures and support systems for vulnerable children, particularly in light of the victim’s testimony about being mislabeled by social services rather than being recognized as a victim of exploitation.

Sentencing for the seven convicted men has not yet been scheduled, but they face substantial prison terms given the serious nature and number of offences for which they have been found guilty.