A trial is underway at Manchester Minshull Street crown court involving six men from Rochdale who face allegations of sexually exploiting two vulnerable schoolgirls in the mid-2000s. The prosecution has described the girls, aged 13 at the time, as having been groomed and subjected to repeated sexual abuse, with one defence lawyer characterizing the victims as having been forced into “sex slavery.”

Tahir Rashid, 55, is identified by the prosecution as the alleged ringleader. He stands accused of abusing both teenagers and is also charged with the rape of a 12-year-old girl dating back to the late 1980s. Rashid denies all charges, which include rape, indecent assault, and assault by penetration.

The other five defendants—Mohammed Saleem, 47; Sucklane Shah, 47; Itfaq Hussain, 46; Arshad Mohammed, 56; and Amjad Mahmood, 54—all of Rochdale, face various charges related to the rape and sexual exploitation of at least one of the teenage girls between 2003 and 2006. Each denies the allegations brought against them.

During the opening of the prosecution’s case, Rossano Scardamella KC described how the two girls, referred to in court as Girl A and Girl B, were often coerced into having sex with multiple men on the same day, resulting in a prolonged pattern of sexual abuse. The prosecution asserts that the victims were targeted because of their vulnerability.

Judge Matthew Corbett-Jones noted that one defendant, Amjad Mahmood, is currently undergoing treatment abroad for a psychiatric condition and has been declared unfit to stand trial at present. However, the judge stated that the jury would still be required to consider whether Mahmood was involved in the alleged assault by penetration.

The trial remains ongoing, with further evidence expected to be presented in the coming sessions. The case has drawn public attention due to its serious nature and the vulnerable status of the victims involved.