A trial involving six men accused of sexually abusing three girls in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, has commenced at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court. The accused, identified as Tahir Rashid, 55; Mohammed Saleem, 47; Sucklane Shah, 47; Amjad Mahmood, 54; Iftaq Hussain, 46; and Arshad Mohammed, 56, all deny the charges against them.

The prosecution alleges that the victims, referred to in court as Girls A, B, and C, were subjected to extensive abuse from a young age. According to opening statements, the girls were forced into sexual exploitation and described as having been treated as “sex slaves” who were compelled to have sex with multiple men.

The abuse reportedly began at different times for the three girls. One was allegedly targeted in the late 1980s, while the exploitation of the other two is said to have started in the mid-2000s. The prosecutor, Rossano Scamardella KC, described the victims as vulnerable children who came from troubled family environments, noting they were allegedly abused from as young as 12 years old.

The case focuses on historical sexual offences, with details of the alleged grooming and exploitation forming a central part of the court proceedings. The trial is ongoing, with further testimony and evidence expected to be heard in the coming days.