Seven Men Convicted of Sexual Exploitation of Teenagers in Rochdale

• Seven men have been found guilty of sexually exploiting teenagers in Rochdale from 2001 to 2006.
• The trial revealed the exploitation of the victims' vulnerability through drugs and alcohol.
• Operation Lytton has been ongoing since 2015, with 37 individuals already held accountable.

This was reported by The Independent, The Guardian.

Conviction of a Group of Men in Rochdale

Seven men involved in the sexual exploitation of two teenagers in Rochdale have been found guilty of multiple offenses. These crimes occurred between 2001 and 2006 when the victims were only 13 years old.

During the trial in Manchester, it was revealed that the men exploited the girls' vulnerability by providing them with drugs, alcohol, and a place to stay. The victims were forced to engage in sexual acts with them in filthy apartments, cars, and other unsuitable locations.

After three weeks of deliberation, the jury returned a unanimous verdict on 50 offenses. One of the key witnesses was Girl A, who stated that she could have been a victim of more than 200 men.

Among the defendants were Mohamed Zahid, Mushtaq Ahmed, and Kaseer Bashir, who worked at the Rochdale market. Zahid, known as "The Boss," provided victims with free underwear in exchange for sex.

Zahid had previously been convicted of similar offenses in 2016. Other defendants, such as Mohamed Shahzad and Naim Akram, were apprehended while attempting to flee the country.

The court case is part of the ongoing Operation Lytton, which has been investigating child sexual exploitation in Rochdale since 2015. To date, 37 individuals have been held accountable, with five more trials scheduled for the fall.

Judge Jonathan Seely noted that the court cannot take the risk of allowing the defendants the possibility of fleeing.

Girl B, another witness, revealed that social workers were aware of the situation but failed to take necessary actions to protect her.

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