Seven men have been jailed for a total of 106 years for a string of child sex abuse offences against two girls in Rotherham in the 2000s.
The judge, HHJ Michael Slater, opened proceedings by stating that only a “lengthy determinate sentence” would be appropriate in all of their cases.
He added that they would serve their sentences in “difficult conditions.”
Mohammed Amar, 42, convicted of two counts of indecent assault, was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment, with two years on extended licence.
Yasser Ajaib, 39, convicted of one count of indecent assault, was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment, 12 months on extended licence.
Mohammed Zameer Sadiq, 49, convicted of one count of rape and one count of sexual intercourse with a girl under 13, was given 15 years imprisonment, 12 months on extended licence. Some family members were seen shaking their heads and crying as the sentence was delivered.
Seven men convicted of a string of child sex abuse offences were faced down by a survivor of their sick abuse in court
NCAMohammed Siyab, 49, convicted of two counts of rape, one count of sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 and one count of trafficking, was handed down 25 years imprisonment, with 12 months on licence.
HHJ Slater described him as a “persistent and cruel sexual offender” as he handed down the sentence, which was met with shock in the public gallery.
Siyab, who heard his sentence through an Urdu interpreter, waved to his family as he was taken down. One of his daughters shouted “I love you dad” as he was led out of the dock.
Abid Saddiq, 43, convicted of three counts of rape and one of indecent assault, was sentenced to 24 years imprisonment with a further extended 12 months licence.
Saddiq was previously sentenced for rape and indecent assault convictions in 2019 by HHJ Slater, who at the time described him as a “cunning and determined sexual predator”, despite his learning difficulties. Mr Justice Slater said he had found no reason to change his assessment.
Tahir Yasin, 38, convicted of eight counts of rape, was given 13 years imprisonment, with each count of rape running concurrently. Mr Justice Slater said that Yasin was a “sexual opportunist rather than a predator,” adding: “You took full advantage of this vulnerable complainant.”
Ramin Bari, 37, convicted of four counts of rape on two separate occasions at a hotel, was given 9 years imprisonment.
All of the sentences were observed by the survivors of the abuse, who sat in the jury area underneath the public gallery.
The sentencing took place at Sheffield Crown Court
PAClosing proceedings, the judge said: “I would like to commend the courage of the defendants in having the fortitude to go over time and time again the dreadful events they suffered at the hands of these offenders.
“Their courage has been outstanding and the dignity that they have displayed has been totally impressive. You have my utmost admiration.
“This will not act as a magic wand, by far, but I hope things get better in the future.”
The sentences come after dramatic events in Sheffield Crown Court yesterday.
One of the survivors of the abuse gave a moving victim impact statement, directly addressing the men in the dock.
Speaking from a stand next to the judge, she detailed the appalling nature of the abuse she faced from the men.
She was forced to commit a sexual act aged 11, groomed at her primary school playground, raped at 12, her “childlike body” assaulted as she was plied with drink and drugs by a taxi driver.
She told the court how she had been made to take a virginity test aged 11.
“You made it sound like it was a crime to be a virgin. That same day you sent me off and forced me to commit a sexual act. My innocence was stolen.”
She said that she had been raped by over 150 men by the time she was 16, having been trafficked cross the country.
Speaking to one of the rapists facing prison, she said: “You made sure my abuse went to the next level. You made sure it was a free for all.
“If the free drinks, cigarettes, drugs didn’t make me do as I was told, you would take my phone and drive me around England.”
The girls were abused in supermarket car parks, in cemeteries, even behind a nursery. In one shocking example, a girl had to escape from one of her rapist’s homes, climbing through a window after she was locked inside.
At the start of sentencing proceedings yesterday, Nicholas Lumley, for the prosecution, gave a brief summary of the case.
He said the complainants were young at the time of the offending, saying they were “preyed upon” but each of the defendants.
He described how they were groomed and aggressively forced to engage in sexual activities.
The defendants denied the acts, some even knowing the complainants, with the girls having to be cross-examined in the trial.
The complainants had to time and again carry out identification procedures, confronting each man one by one to confirm their identity.
