By Andrew Bardsley
Copyright manchestereveningnews
A predatory rapist remains on the run as six other sex offenders received lengthy jail sentences for their part in the abuse of two girls in Rochdale. Kasir Bashir fled before his trial and is wanted by police. He was today (Wednesday, October 1) sentenced to 29 years in prison in his absence. Greater Manchester Police previously said of Bashir: “We don’t know where he is, but we are determined to find him no matter where he thinks he can hide.” The bravery and courage shown by two girls, now adult women, led to the convictions and sentences of seven men, including Bashir. Girl A and Girl B, as they are known to protect their identities, both gave evidence during a five month trial and faced lengthy questioning in court. Sign up to the MEN Court newsletter here Former market stall holder Mohammed Zahid known as ‘Boss man’, who was the only predator to abuse both girls, was jailed for 35 years. Bashir got to know Girl B through Zahid. He was also a trader at Rochdale market and was in his mid 20s at the time of his crimes. He sold socks and shoes and took advantage of Zahid’s grooming. He and Mushtaq Ahmed, another market stall trader who knew Zahid, would regularly abuse Girl B. At the sentencing, Girl B said: “I am disappointed that Bashir has taken the coward’s way out and run away from facing what he has done. It’s like his last bit of control over me. But this is the only disappointment I have.” Ahmed, who also abused Girl B, was useful to Zahid as he had moved out of his market stall into a self contained shop in the town centre, which had a downstairs basement. Dark and damp, it was the bleak location for the rape and abuse of Girl B by Zahid and Ahmed. Another man, who remains unknown, also abused her there. A house in Oldham was another venue for this systematic, routine abuse, where Bashir joined in with Zahid and Ahmed. She remembers being abused by more men, who have not been identified. She was once abused by five men in the same evening here, she would be plied with alcohol. She would be expected to go upstairs and wait for them, until the men followed her, one by one. Girl B told police years later: “I would just close my eyes and pray for it to be over. I just wanted to close my eyes and let it be done with. I just lay there. I literally just lay there and they would do what they did. “They would have sex with me. I just lay there, I wouldn’t move, I wouldn’t say no. I just lay there.” Zahid would give her a few pounds, just enough to get the bus home, and some cigarettes. The abuse continued, around other locations in Rochdale. Girl A also fell prey to Zahid’s grooming. He would offer them cheap underwear and lend them money. It was not long until the mask slipped, though. He asked her for a kiss, then sex. She felt obliged to give Zahid what he wanted, in exchange for the apparent kindness. Zahid began to introduce Girl A to friends of his. She was taken to a number of different properties across the town, one of which was where she was raped by Roheez Khan, who Girl A labelled ‘Cock-eyed Taz’ due to him having a lazy eye. It was through her travel around the town that Girl A met more of her abusers. At first, Mohammed Shahzad, known by the nickname Zero, appeared to be one of the few people to genuinely care for Girl A. They would share a joke as he drove her around the town. Then in his 20s, Shahzad gave her his number and they regularly texted, despite the age gap, as she was 13. He spent about a month grooming her in this way, until his true colours were revealed. Propositioning her for sex, she felt she had no choice. He would abuse her in his taxi, or after driving to remote locations where they wouldn’t be seen. Naheem Akram, another taxi driver, was introduced to Girl A. He would also drive her to secluded locations and rape her. There was one night of ‘sheer depravity’ involving the taxi drivers which haunted Girl A for years to come. She was given an ecstasy pill by Shahzad and then driven to a quiet road, where she was ‘brutally’ sexually assaulted. The vile episode was filmed by Nisar Hussain, another taxi driver. Girl A was told that unless she complied, the footage would be sent everywhere. Again, she felt she had no choice. Despite her compliance, it was sent out anyway. She recalled being taunted and abused over the clip for years to come. While she was made to remember what had happened to her, these predators continued to live their lives. It was only years later, and after both victims picked out their abusers in identification procedures, that justice finally began to catch up with them. Detective Chief Inspector Guy Laycock, senior investigating officer, said: “I must start by paying tribute to the two survivors in this case. They have been pivotal in bringing these abusers to long-awaited justice by bravely giving painful and difficult testimony during a four-month trial. Without them this would not be possible and today is about them. “These seven men preyed on vulnerability for their own depraved sexual gain. The men abused, degraded and then discarded the victims when they were just children. This horrific abuse knew no limits, despite their denials throughout this lengthy investigation and court case. They had a callous disregard for these women when they were girls and continue to show no remorse for their unforgivable actions all these years later. “The team of dedicated investigators on this case have put thousands of hours into securing this outcome. They’ve supported the victims throughout to piece together all the evidence. Bringing child abusers to justice is why we work so tirelessly day-in day-out, and I am so pleased for the victims that we have been able to help deliver this justice for them.” Liz Fell, Specialist Prosecutor for the CPS’ Organised Child Sexual Abuse Unit, said: “Seven men who groomed and raped two vulnerable teenage girls in Rochdale and the surrounding area two decades ago have been sentenced. “At the centre of this case are two victims who, as children, were repeatedly abused, passed around and discarded by men who cruelly preyed on their vulnerabilities and exploited their difficult circumstances for their own gratification. I would like to take this opportunity to thank both victims, who have shown an enormous amount of strength and dignity throughout what has been a lengthy and challenging legal process. “Their determination to seek justice has been fundamental to securing these convictions. The impact of child sexual abuse extends far beyond the immediate offending. Both women not only gave evidence during the trial but have assisted the Court further by providing victim personal statements describing in tragic detail the trauma they have carried for decades, and the impact this offending has had on all parts of their lives. Join our Court and Crime WhatsApp group HERE “None of the defendants have shown the slightest remorse for what they have put the survivors through. By maintaining their denials and refusing to accept their responsibility, they forced these brave women to relive the abuse they suffered at their hands over a five month trial. “Our Organised Child Sexual Abuse Unit, in collaboration with Greater Manchester Police, was able to use extensive evidence to build a comprehensive picture of their offending to present to a jury who found them guilty and delivered the justice these women deserved. “All children have the right to be safe and protected. I hope the outcome of this case will encourage anyone who may be in a similar position to come forward to report their abuse to the police, knowing that we can prosecute where there is sufficient evidence and we will do everything to support you through the process.” Sharon Hubber, director of children’s services at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “What these men did to those innocent young girls was vile and they rightfully deserve to be behind bars for a long time. Today’s sentencing is a reminder of our ongoing commitment, alongside Greater Manchester Police, in bringing these perpetrators to justice and we will not stop here in our efforts. “We also continue to provide a safe and supportive environment to anyone affected by non-recent abuse or exploitation to ensure people get the right support that they need. Rochdale Borough Council is in a very different place to where it once was more than a decade ago, and our work to improve our safeguarding practice and our response to child sexual exploitation has been recognised in every Ofsted inspection since 2014. “We will not be complacent however, and we remain committed to doing all that we can with our partners to protect and support victims and survivors.” Here is a full list of the seven defendants’ sentences
