Search results for Rochdale

Description

Naheem Akram, 48, of Manley Road, Rochdale, guilty of seven offences including rape and assault by penetration.

Seven men have been found guilty of using two teenage girls as "sex slaves" in Rochdale.

Members:

• Mohammed Zahid
• Kasir Bashir
• Mushtaq Ahmed
• Roheez Khan
• Mohammed Shahzad
• Nisar Hussain
• Naheem Akram

Their trial at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester heard evidence in relation to 53 sexual offences, believed to have been committed between 2001 and 2006, over 72 days.

One of the victims, who is now in her 30s, told the jury that she was labelled a "prostitute" by social services in Rochdale when allegations against the men first came to light.

Their trial was told that she and the other victim were groomed from the age of 13 and forced to have sex with the men "whenever and wherever" they wanted - including on rancid mattresses, in car parks and alleyways.

Both victims were given drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes by the men involved, the court heard. They were also introduced to taxi drivers for sexual exploitation.

The seven men found guilty, all of whom denied any wrongdoing, include:

• Father-of-three Mohammed Zahid, 64, of Station Road, Crumpsall, Manchester. He was found guilty of 20 offences including rape, indecency with a child, and attempting to procure a girl into having unlawful sexual intercourse.
• Kasir Bashir, 50, of Napier Street East, Oldham, was convicted in his absence - and is now wanted. He was found guilty of four offences, including rape and indecency with a child.
• Mushtaq Ahmed, 67, of Corona Avenue, Oldham, was found guilty of nine offences including rape and indecency with a child.
• Roheez Khan, 39, of Athole Street, Rochdale, was found guilty of one offence of rape.
• Mohammed Shahzad, 44, of Beswicke Royds Street, Rochdale, is guilty of six offences including rape and assault by penetration.
• Nisar Hussain, 41, of Newfield Close, Rochdale, was guilty of three offences, including rape and assault by penetration.
• Naheem Akram, 48, of Manley Road, Rochdale, is guilty of seven offences including rape and assault by penetration.

Zahid - known as Boss Man - offered the victims free lingerie from his market stall, in exchange for money, food, and sex with him and his friends.

The trial lasted around four months, with jurors delivering their unanimous guilty verdicts on Friday, after three weeks of deliberations.

32 offenders have been jailed for a combined 300 years, Greater Manchester police has said, as part of two major investigations in the past decade.

An additional 20 men are due on trial - with their next court date set for September 2025.

Detective Chief Inspector Guy Laycock - the senior investigating officer on the case - has said that his investigators spent "thousands of hours" on the "complex" case.

He paid tribute to the two survivors.

"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."

Detective Laycock also said the seven men "preyed on vulnerability for their own depraved sexual gain."

He added: "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."

Description

Nisar Hussain, 41, of Newfield Close, Rochdale, guilty of three offences including rape and assault by penetration.

Seven men have been found guilty of using two teenage girls as "sex slaves" in Rochdale.

Members:

• Mohammed Zahid
• Kasir Bashir
• Mushtaq Ahmed
• Roheez Khan
• Mohammed Shahzad
• Nisar Hussain
• Naheem Akram

Their trial at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester heard evidence in relation to 53 sexual offences, believed to have been committed between 2001 and 2006, over 72 days.

One of the victims, who is now in her 30s, told the jury that she was labelled a "prostitute" by social services in Rochdale when allegations against the men first came to light.

Their trial was told that she and the other victim were groomed from the age of 13 and forced to have sex with the men "whenever and wherever" they wanted - including on rancid mattresses, in car parks and alleyways.

Both victims were given drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes by the men involved, the court heard. They were also introduced to taxi drivers for sexual exploitation.

The seven men found guilty, all of whom denied any wrongdoing, include:

• Father-of-three Mohammed Zahid, 64, of Station Road, Crumpsall, Manchester. He was found guilty of 20 offences including rape, indecency with a child, and attempting to procure a girl into having unlawful sexual intercourse.
• Kasir Bashir, 50, of Napier Street East, Oldham, was convicted in his absence - and is now wanted. He was found guilty of four offences, including rape and indecency with a child.
• Mushtaq Ahmed, 67, of Corona Avenue, Oldham, was found guilty of nine offences including rape and indecency with a child.
• Roheez Khan, 39, of Athole Street, Rochdale, was found guilty of one offence of rape.
• Mohammed Shahzad, 44, of Beswicke Royds Street, Rochdale, is guilty of six offences including rape and assault by penetration.
• Nisar Hussain, 41, of Newfield Close, Rochdale, was guilty of three offences, including rape and assault by penetration.
• Naheem Akram, 48, of Manley Road, Rochdale, is guilty of seven offences including rape and assault by penetration.

Zahid - known as Boss Man - offered the victims free lingerie from his market stall, in exchange for money, food, and sex with him and his friends.

The trial lasted around four months, with jurors delivering their unanimous guilty verdicts on Friday, after three weeks of deliberations.

32 offenders have been jailed for a combined 300 years, Greater Manchester police has said, as part of two major investigations in the past decade.

An additional 20 men are due on trial - with their next court date set for September 2025.

Detective Chief Inspector Guy Laycock - the senior investigating officer on the case - has said that his investigators spent "thousands of hours" on the "complex" case.

He paid tribute to the two survivors.

"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."

Detective Laycock also said the seven men "preyed on vulnerability for their own depraved sexual gain."

He added: "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."

Description

Mohammed Shahzad, 44, of Beswicke Royds Street, Rochdale, guilty of six offences including rape and assault by penetration.

Seven men have been found guilty of using two teenage girls as "sex slaves" in Rochdale.

Members:

• Mohammed Zahid
• Kasir Bashir
• Mushtaq Ahmed
• Roheez Khan
• Mohammed Shahzad
• Nisar Hussain
• Naheem Akram

Their trial at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester heard evidence in relation to 53 sexual offences, believed to have been committed between 2001 and 2006, over 72 days.

One of the victims, who is now in her 30s, told the jury that she was labelled a "prostitute" by social services in Rochdale when allegations against the men first came to light.

Their trial was told that she and the other victim were groomed from the age of 13 and forced to have sex with the men "whenever and wherever" they wanted - including on rancid mattresses, in car parks and alleyways.

Both victims were given drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes by the men involved, the court heard. They were also introduced to taxi drivers for sexual exploitation.

The seven men found guilty, all of whom denied any wrongdoing, include:

• Father-of-three Mohammed Zahid, 64, of Station Road, Crumpsall, Manchester. He was found guilty of 20 offences including rape, indecency with a child, and attempting to procure a girl into having unlawful sexual intercourse.
• Kasir Bashir, 50, of Napier Street East, Oldham, was convicted in his absence - and is now wanted. He was found guilty of four offences, including rape and indecency with a child.
• Mushtaq Ahmed, 67, of Corona Avenue, Oldham, was found guilty of nine offences including rape and indecency with a child.
• Roheez Khan, 39, of Athole Street, Rochdale, was found guilty of one offence of rape.
• Mohammed Shahzad, 44, of Beswicke Royds Street, Rochdale, is guilty of six offences including rape and assault by penetration.
• Nisar Hussain, 41, of Newfield Close, Rochdale, was guilty of three offences, including rape and assault by penetration.
• Naheem Akram, 48, of Manley Road, Rochdale, is guilty of seven offences including rape and assault by penetration.

Zahid - known as Boss Man - offered the victims free lingerie from his market stall, in exchange for money, food, and sex with him and his friends.

The trial lasted around four months, with jurors delivering their unanimous guilty verdicts on Friday, after three weeks of deliberations.

32 offenders have been jailed for a combined 300 years, Greater Manchester police has said, as part of two major investigations in the past decade.

An additional 20 men are due on trial - with their next court date set for September 2025.

Detective Chief Inspector Guy Laycock - the senior investigating officer on the case - has said that his investigators spent "thousands of hours" on the "complex" case.

He paid tribute to the two survivors.

"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."

Detective Laycock also said the seven men "preyed on vulnerability for their own depraved sexual gain."

He added: "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."

Description

Roheez Khan, 39, of Athole Street, Rochdale, guilty of one offence of rape.

Seven men have been found guilty of using two teenage girls as "sex slaves" in Rochdale.

Members:

• Mohammed Zahid
• Kasir Bashir
• Mushtaq Ahmed
• Roheez Khan
• Mohammed Shahzad
• Nisar Hussain
• Naheem Akram

Their trial at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester heard evidence in relation to 53 sexual offences, believed to have been committed between 2001 and 2006, over 72 days.

One of the victims, who is now in her 30s, told the jury that she was labelled a "prostitute" by social services in Rochdale when allegations against the men first came to light.

Their trial was told that she and the other victim were groomed from the age of 13 and forced to have sex with the men "whenever and wherever" they wanted - including on rancid mattresses, in car parks and alleyways.

Both victims were given drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes by the men involved, the court heard. They were also introduced to taxi drivers for sexual exploitation.

The seven men found guilty, all of whom denied any wrongdoing, include:

• Father-of-three Mohammed Zahid, 64, of Station Road, Crumpsall, Manchester. He was found guilty of 20 offences including rape, indecency with a child, and attempting to procure a girl into having unlawful sexual intercourse.
• Kasir Bashir, 50, of Napier Street East, Oldham, was convicted in his absence - and is now wanted. He was found guilty of four offences, including rape and indecency with a child.
• Mushtaq Ahmed, 67, of Corona Avenue, Oldham, was found guilty of nine offences including rape and indecency with a child.
• Roheez Khan, 39, of Athole Street, Rochdale, was found guilty of one offence of rape.
• Mohammed Shahzad, 44, of Beswicke Royds Street, Rochdale, is guilty of six offences including rape and assault by penetration.
• Nisar Hussain, 41, of Newfield Close, Rochdale, was guilty of three offences, including rape and assault by penetration.
• Naheem Akram, 48, of Manley Road, Rochdale, is guilty of seven offences including rape and assault by penetration.

Zahid - known as Boss Man - offered the victims free lingerie from his market stall, in exchange for money, food, and sex with him and his friends.

The trial lasted around four months, with jurors delivering their unanimous guilty verdicts on Friday, after three weeks of deliberations.

32 offenders have been jailed for a combined 300 years, Greater Manchester police has said, as part of two major investigations in the past decade.

An additional 20 men are due on trial - with their next court date set for September 2025.

Detective Chief Inspector Guy Laycock - the senior investigating officer on the case - has said that his investigators spent "thousands of hours" on the "complex" case.

He paid tribute to the two survivors.

"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."

Detective Laycock also said the seven men "preyed on vulnerability for their own depraved sexual gain."

He added: "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."

Description

A man who lied about his age to meet up with what he thought was a 13-year-old girl was found by police at Piccadilly railway station with condoms stashed in his pocket, a court has heard.

Kashif Mahmood, 37, told the social media account, which had the profile of a teenage girl, that he was 25-years-old. He began engaging in sexual communication with the account via Snapchat, telling her he wanted to 'kiss and cuddle' before asking if she 'wanted to do other stuff'.

Mahmood had requested the location of the child and first asked to be friends, before the conversation progressed and he suggested meeting up with her, Minshull Street Crown Court was told.

When arriving at the train station, after booking a train ticket for the account to meet with what he believed to be a teenager, police located Mahmood in his locked car, when he began 'desperately trying to remove content from his mobile phone' before the windows were smashed.

Peter Malone, prosecuting, said following an interaction between the pair, where the 'girl' said she was at school and had to return to class, checks were made and the account talking to the 'girl' "was associated with Mr Mahmood and an address in Rochdale.

Further interactions were recorded again in June and shared with police and the Regional Organised Crime Unit Network (ROCU). The court was then told how Mahmood had sent a train ticket to the account, for the girl to meet him at Piccadilly station on June 27.

"It was suspected that this was done for the purpose of sexual activity," Mr Malone added. "At 11.40, a traffic officer saw a vehicle linked to the defendant near to the pick up point.

"Officers made their way to this area and blocked the BMW. The officer told the defendant that he was a police officer and tried to open the driver's door."

The court was told that Mr Mahmood was ‘trying to do something with his mobile phone’, which officers had suspected was him 'trying to delete information', and so a decision was made to smash the window to arrest him.

Two mobile phones were seized, along with cash. Officers also found two condoms in his back pocket, the court was told. Messages and photos were found on the chat log when police downloaded information from his device.

Mahmood, who had no previous convictions, was bailed on June 29 last year with conditions, but was arrested in October for breaching his bail.

In mitigation, Raj Chopra said that Mahmood, of Royds Street, Rochdale, who had moved to the UK in 2010, had 'fallen into depression' before the incident and was taking medication, meaning that his 'thinking was diminished'.

Mr Chopra said that Mahmood had described the incident as a 'silly mistake' and that he claimed he was dyslexic, adding that family had encouraged him to use social media to improve his social life.

"He said he had never used social media before that," Mr Chopra told the court. "He said this was completely out of character and that his family had suggested he join social media. He is very remorseful for his behaviour and accepts his actions were a silly mistake."

His Honour Judge Jason MacAdam responded: "You described your defending to a probation officer as a silly mistake. That is nonsense.

"In June, using Snapchat, you communicated with a person that made it clear she was 13 years of age. You groomed her, making reference to the two of you being intimate and arranged to meet at Piccadilly.

"You claimed you're dyslexic and that a photo made her look older. If all that is the case, then why would you tell her not to tell her mother who she was meeting?

"When you were arrested you were found to have two condoms in your pocket. The evidence against you is overwhelming from the communications you sent.

"I concur that you don't take responsibility for your offending. Because you continue to minimise your offending, I cannot accept your claim of being remorseful."

Mahmood, 37, appeared at Minshull Crown Court on Monday (February 10) where he was sentenced to two years and seven months imprisonment after pleading guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child, arranging/facilitating the commission of a child sex offence and attempting to meet a child following grooming.

He was also given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

NWROCU detectives took over the investigation and arrested Mahmood in Manchester City Centre the following day (27 June 2024) while he was waiting in his car to meet a child he had groomed online.

Detective Constable Adam Cronshaw from the NWROCU said: "When we arrived to arrest Mahmood, his car was locked, and he was desperately trying to remove content from his mobile phone.

"We were forced to smash the window and remove him from the vehicle to seize his phone before he could delete any evidence of his actions. When we searched Mahmood, we seized two condoms from his back pocket which clearly demonstrates his intent.

"Offenders like Mahmood believe they can hide behind a computer or phone screen and avoid conviction, but this is clearly not the case. We collaborate with law enforcement across the country to safeguard children from danger, whether it occurs in person or online.

“I hope this conviction will act as a reminder that there are no borders when it comes to sexual abuse, it can happen anywhere and the impact is devastating. If you have experienced any form of sexual abuse, or know of a child being abused, please come forward and report this to police."

Description

A depraved predator who victimised two young children has been jailed at Minshull Street Crown Court today (Friday 25 April 2025) for 11 years and four months following an investigation by our Online Child Abuse Investigation Team (OCAIT) in conjunction with our Digital Forensic Investigation Unit (DFIU).

He was also given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and will be placed on the Sex Offenders' Register.

Carl Sinderby (24/04/1982) of Manchester Road, Rochdale, was found guilty of 20 offences, broken down to ten counts of sexual assault, two counts of causing a child to watch a sexual act, two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, as well as six counts of taking and making indecent images of children.

This campaign of abuse occurred over a three-year period, ending in July 2024. At the time it started, the two children were only five and seven.

Sinderby came to the attention of our OCAIT team following information passed onto us by a partner agency. An investigation was immediately initiated, and evidence of abhorrent abuse was discovered by our specially trained digital investigators on devices seized from his property. The digital side of this investigation was extensive, and included reviewing thousands of videos and images.

Once the abuse was uncovered, Sinderby was arrested and interviewed over two days by detectives. He made a full confession around his prolonged abuse of the children, admitting to having a sexual interest in children and that he had harmed them to satisfy his needs. Not only was this a case of significant grooming of the children, but also of building the trust of the parents, only to exploit it without their knowledge.

Detective Sergeant Greevy from our OCAIT said, “What Carl Sinderby has done to this family, particularly these children, is nothing short of cruel.

“The children’s wellbeing and safety has been at the forefront of our investigation, as has getting justice for them.

“I know they may be too young to fully comprehend what has happened to them, but they were incredibly brave in telling us some of the things Sinderby was doing to them whilst they were in his care. Ultimately, their disclosures have led to us being able to investigate thoroughly, get admissions during his police interview, and build a strong case to take to the Crown Prosecution Service.

“We are absolutely committed to removing offenders like Sinderby from the streets, as the danger he poses to society, particularly children, is significant. I’m confident that with him behind bars, the streets of Greater Manchester are safer.

“Despite this positive result, his impact remains, and this family now must pick up the pieces and rebuild their life. I hope this sentence makes that a little bit easier for them.”

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Ali Razza Hussain Kasmi, 36, is charged with six offences including two rapes and two counts of gross indecency with a child.

Description

A "prolific sexual predator" who raped a child and abused multiple other children in his home has been jailed.

Gerald Glancy from Rochdale admitted a catalogue of offences, including rape, sexual activity with a child and causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said the 85-year-old had exploited his victims' "vulnerability without any thought to the impact his abuse may have on them".

He was sentenced to 15 years in prison at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said the court heard about Glancy's "horrific sexual abuse" of 24 young victims.

A CPS representative said between October 2018 and June 2022, Glancy was regularly engaging in sexualised conversations with children "over web chats", which he then recorded.

During those conversations, he incited them to engage in sexual activity, whilst he himself engaged in a sexual act.

They said Glancy had also been abusing children in his home and several devices were recovered by GMP from his address which contained still and moving photographs of Glancy engaging in sexual activity with children.

'Sickening'

GMP said Glancy admitted possessing indecent images of children after being arrested in February 2021 and "was therefore breaching a previous sexual prevention order".

The force said it seized four mobile telephones, five hard drives, five flash drives and two cameras.

The CPS said the devices were sent for forensic analysis, but Glancy "continued to engage with children over web chat and committed further offences".

GMP said officers returned to Glancy's home in June 2022, "based on intelligence received by the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children", and found a further five unauthorised devices.

They said Glancy admitted making more than 47,000 images of children, taking at least 200 "category C" images and distributing two "category A" images.

Speaking after sentencing, Alex Mann said Glancy was such "a prolific sexual predator" that it had not been possible to identify all of his victims.

"The abuse he subjected children to was sickening," he said.

"He exploited their vulnerability without any thought to the impact his abuse may have on them."

Det Ch Insp Suzanne Keenaghan added that those who had provided "valuable support" in the case should be commended for their bravery.

"We know it’s been an extremely harrowing time for them," she said.

"Glancy is the worst kind of offender and we are pleased that this predator is no longer on the streets and will not be able to hurt children ever again."

Description

A remorseless and 'delusional sadist' subjected a group of women to a 'campaign of rape and violence'. Andrew Ellison, 46, has been locked up for nearly three decades for a string of 28 horrific crimes against five victims..

Ellison, from Rochdale, was found guilty of crimes including rape; assault; and false imprisonment following a five-week trial. The first four victims all suffered a barrage of physical and verbal abuse, leaving them feeling 'worthless', Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court heard.

He carried out some attacks wielding a bat with the engraving 'Andy E'. His offending started in the 1990s, prosecutor Amanda Johnson said. He left his first victim bruised and scratched - and once knocked her unconscious.

Ellison called her a 's**g' and a 'w***e', the court heard. He abused his second victim and slapped her across the face.

His threats were so terrifying that she once wet herself. Ellison made her sit in her urine, hissing: "Dirty b****." Ellison smashed the woman's head against a fireplace. Part of her ear was sliced off.

He later raped the woman. She said the attack felt like it lasted 'a lifetime'. "I'll show you what 'no' means," Ellison told her.

Another victim was also verbally abused. Ellison 'rugby tackled' her on the street in one shocking incident. He dragged her down a set of stairs and spat in her face. Ellison once kicked her so hard she couldn't get up. She thought her legs were broken after the thug ditched her in an alley.

The woman had crockery thrown at her after he lost his temper. The violence later 'escalated into rape'. Ellison threated to 'gut' the woman with a knife. He told her he had taken an overdose - and that she 'deserved to watch him die'.

Another of Ellison's victims was raped as he threated to stab her if she moved. He told her he'd kill her on another occasion. Ellison also strangled her.

The woman documented what happened to her so 'people would know' what she had endured if she died. The woman once ran into the street and flagged down a car for help. Ellison dragged her from the back seat, kicking her and knocking her unconscious.

His 'catalogue of offending' was then 'laid bare'.

Ellison's last victim was a woman who he exposed himself to before touching himself inappropriately - and attempting to touch her.

He was arrested last March. He offered no comment when quizzed by cops. Cowardly Ellison, of no fixed address, pleaded not guilty to all charges - four counts of putting a person in fear of violence by harassment; six counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm; six counts of rape; four counts of false imprisonment; one count of damaging property; two counts of making threats to kill; one count of inflicting grievous bodily harm; two counts of assault by penetration; one count of exposure; and one count of attempted sexual assault.

He was found guilty of 28 counts by a jury.

One of the women said in a statement read to the court: "I'm still hyper vigilant just walking down the street. It's that constant fear of not knowing what's coming."

"I still need medication for my mental health," another said. One victim said: "I wake most nights with night terrors and struggle to sleep."

Defending Ellison, Aisha Khan said that he has 'no vengeful wishes towards the complainants and that he wants to go on courses to help him in prison. The court heard he had a history of anxiety and depression.

Sentencing Ellison to 24 years, with a four-year extended licence period, Judge Bernadette Baxter described him as 'selfish, careless bully'.

"You are a delusional sadist who has taken no responsibility for your actions and blames anyone but yourself for the sexual violence you inflicted on others," she added.

"You have not shown a jot of remorse at any time and continue to deny the offences. This is very serious offending. It was a campaign of rape and violence, which had a profound impact on their lives for many years."

'His lack of remorse is despicable'

Greater Manchester Police interviewed more than 60 witnesses and conducted nearly 14 hours of interviews with Ellison's victims.

Following the case, Detective Constable Marshall Trower, of GMP's Rochdale District, said Ellison's victims were 'terrorised tortured, and abused'.

"He would subject them to vile verbal and physical abuse and make these women believe that they were at fault. They felt extremely alone and vulnerable.

"Ellison was quick to... blame these incidents on the victims, calling them 'mad' and 'hysterical'. I commend all the victims for their bravery throughout this investigation and for having the courage to report this information.

"Andrew Ellison's crimes are horrific and his lack of remorse for all five women and their welfare is despicable. He is an extremely dangerous individual who fully deserves the sentence imposed.

"I truly hope that the sentence of this dangerous individual brings some form of peace to all the victims and their loved ones."

Kirsty Walls, senior crown prosecutor for CPS north west's Rape and Serious Sexual Offence Unit, said: "Ellison is a prolific sex offender and a danger to women. He sought sexual gratification from having power and control over his victims and he hasn't displayed any remorse for what he has put them through.

"The Crown Prosecution Service worked with Greater Manchester Police to build a strong case to put before the jury including, eyewitness testimony, video and audio recordings, phone messages, medical evidence from hospital records and images of injuries. The jury found him guilty of 28 out of the 29 counts he faced.

"The women who bravely reported the offences should be commended. I hope they can move forward knowing Ellison has been punished for his actions."

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Jahn Shahid Ghani (30/03/1973) of Whitworth Road, Rochdale has been charged with 17 offences including rape, sexual activity with a child, causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

Description

Former taxi driver Khan, nick-named Billy, betrayed his wife when he started a relationship with the school-age girl just a few weeks after his wife had delivered their first child.

He got his victim, who thought he was her boyfriend, pregnant when she had just turned 13 and also trafficked a second girl, 15, to other abusers, using violence when she complained.

Khan, of Oswald Street in Rochdale, was jailed for eight years in 2012 but was released in 2016. A jury convicted him of trafficking and conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a child.

He was ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for life.

Although he was released from prison in 2016, he remained out on licence but that sentence has now elapsed.

However, he and two other members of the gang - the only members of the gang to have dual UK-Pakistani citizenship - were told they would be deported after their British citizenship was revoked.

Khan lost an appeal against the Home Office ruling in 2018 but, despite that, they remain in the UK.

Khan is still in Rochdale. Khan was charged over a catalogue of serious sex offences against five vulnerable victims in Rochdale and Heywood where young white girls were plied with drink, abused and then shared with other abusers at parties held across the north of England.

Description

Josh Bennett pleaded guilty to two counts of abduction and two counts of grooming.

Josh Bennett, who used Facebook to pester underage children for sex and allowed his flat to be used as a refuge for missing children, has been sentenced.

Bennett (born 17/11/1996), of Underwood, Rochdale pleaded guilty to two counts of abduction and two counts of grooming at an earlier hearing.

He was sentenced at Minshull Street Crown Court, to 40 months in prison, is subject to a sexual offences prevention order and must sign the sex offender’s register.

Bennett's offending came to light in December 2014 when someone with access to his Facebook account saw numerous messages sent to underage children aged between 12 and 15-years-old. The tone of the messages were overtly sexual and were asking the children to meet him at his flat and have sex with him.

The messages show Bennett was well aware the children were underage but he persisted with his sexual advances regardless.

No evidence was found to suggest Bennett did in fact meet these children and engage in any sexual activity.

The Facebook messages were passed to Rochdale Social Services, and a joint investigation was launched by Greater Manchester Police’s Sunrise Team based at Rochdale and the local authority.

As the investigation unfolded, officers established that Bennett had also allowed his flat to be used as a sanctuary for teenagers who had run away from home. While at the flat, he would ply them with alcohol knowing full well they were underage and vulnerable.

On the day Bennett was arrested at his flat, one of these missing children - a 15-year-old boy - was found hiding in a roof inside Bennett's flat.

Detective Constable Ben Harris, from The Sunrise Team, said: "At a young age himself, Bennett has displayed very alarming signs of having a sexual predilection for young children.

"He also allowed his flat to be used as a refuge for children who were missing from home, and plied them with alcohol.

"As we have seen in the press recently, not only does this increase the cost and burden on police and local authorities who are trying to trace missing teenagers as people like Bennett effectively hide them from the authorities, but also places these vulnerable young people in even more dangerous circumstances at a time when they desperately need help and support.

"I would like to thank the individual who reported the alarming Facebook messages to the authorities. This allowed ourselves and Rochdale Council to investigate Bennett’s offending thoroughly and undoubtedly safeguarded the welfare of a lot of young people.

"It is also clear from the Facebook messages that the recipients rebuffed his advances and were aware Bennett was trying to groom them, which is great credit to them.

"Social networking sites are extremely popular and generally safe, but there is always a risk that they can be abused by people like Bennett. I would urge parents to keep a close eye on what their children are doing online and if you have any concerns don’t hesitate to report them. Ourselves and Rochdale Council will take action against anyone we suspect of being involved in grooming or child sexual exploitation and in doing so protect vulnerable young people."

The Sunrise team falls part of Project Phoenix, a multi-agency response to CSE across the whole of Greater Manchester. The project brings together police, local authorities, NHS and third sector organisations, using their collective expertise to safeguard vulnerable young people at risk of exploitation and target those who would try to exploit them.

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A convicted child sex offender extradited from Mexico has been sentenced to a further 16 months in prison.

Andrew Jeremy Eden (15/08/58) was ordered to serve another 16 months for failing to notify police of his intention to travel abroad under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

Eden was convicted of indecently assaulting a seven-year-old child in June 2001. He was sentenced to four years in prison, with a further three years to be served on licence, and forced to sign the Sex Offender's Register.

In February 2005, he was recalled to prison after breaking the conditions of his registration under the Sexual Offences Act. Officers went to his address in Rochdale to arrest him but he was not there and could not be traced.

He was traced to Mexico after a tip off from a member of the public who saw his details on the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre's "Most Wanted" website.

Officers contacted the Mexican authorities to establish whether he was living there. On 13 September 2008 Mexican authorities confirmed they had arrested him and extradition proceedings began.

The extradition was granted in December 2008 but Eden appealed against it. He lost his appeal and officers from GMP's extradition unit travelled to Mexico on Monday 29 June to bring him back to the UK.

He arrived back in Manchester on Thursday 1 July and was immediately taken to a police station.

Detective Inspector Debbie Conlon Houldershaw from GMP's Sex Offender Management Unit, said: "Eden has been proven to be a danger to children. He thought by travelling abroad he would be able to escape the restrictions imposed on him in the UK.

"This shows that Greater Manchester Police will do everything possible to bring these offenders back to the UK.

"This process is not easy and the officers involved have put a lot of work into getting him back so he can be properly monitored and avoid putting any further children at risk."

Jim Gamble, Chief Executive of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre said: "Once again we have seen the benefit of engaging the public through CEOP's Most Wanted website. Our Offender Management team have worked alongside officers from Greater Manchester Police to locate and trace a high risk child sex offender who thought he could avoid being managed in the UK by travelling to Mexico.

"This should send a clear message to other missing child sex offenders; however far they travel, we will track them down and bring them to justice."