A teenage girl who was groomed to become a ‘sex slave’ by Asian men in Rochdale was labelled a ‘prostitute’ from the age of 10 by social services, a court heard.
The victim, now in her 30s, said the abuse began when she was living in a children’s home, her file, held by Rochdale social services, claimed she was selling herself for sex.
The woman, identified as girl B, told Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester she was repeatedly abused from the age of 13, and that the description of her as a prostitute was ‘vile’.
She told the jury at the trial of eight men accused of grooming her and another teenager: ‘It was in my file, when I looked it up.
‘I read it. I was picked up by the police for loitering and prostituting from the age of 10.’
Girl B denied claims by lawyers defending the accused that she was claiming she was abused to gain compensation money.
She said it was not about money, but she wanted Rochdale social services to ‘take responsibility’.
She said: ‘Because they were the ones supposed to care for me and look after me and a lot of bad things happened.
Mohammed Zahid allegedly raped and sexually abused two teenage girls in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, after meeting the victims when he was in his 40s, a court has heard
Zahid (seen at court last week) was known as The Knickerman, as he sold lingerie on the market, and was said to have given free underwear to his alleged victims
Co-defendant Roheez Khan was known as Raja and Cockeyed Taz, although jurors were told he didn’t accept having that second nickname
‘I have never been able to lead my life at all. I struggled to enjoy anything, to do anything. Depression, anxiety to the point I didn’t want to be here.’
Rossano Scamardella KC, prosecuting, said: ‘It was suggested to you, when you were 13 you looked a lot older?’
The witness was given a photo of herself at that age to look at, and said: ‘I look like a little kid.’
Girl B said when the abuse began she was living in a children’s home and started to hang around Rochdale market, where Mohammed Zahid, then in his 40s, owned a stall.
She claimed each week she was taken to a shop in Rochdale owned by another man – Mushtaq Ahmed.
In the cold, damp basement under the shop, she was repeatedly raped on a dirty bare mattress by both the stall-holder Zahid and shop owner, Ahmed.
Mr Scamardella said: ‘Did the two of them take turns to do that to you?’
‘Yes,’ she replied, ‘in the same night. I was closing my eyes and praying for it to be over.’
On other occasions she said Ahmed would drive her and Zahid to a house in Chadderton near Rochdale.
Mushtaq Ahmed, 66, of Oldham, is charged with four rapes, four counts of indecency with a child and procuring a girl for unlawful sex
Girl B told Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester she was repeatedly abused from the age of 13, and that the description of her as a prostitute was ‘vile’
Other men, including Kasir Bashir, who spoke a language she did not understand would go there and sexually abuse her.
She said: ‘I would go upstairs and wait in the bedroom.’
Mr Scamardella said: ‘Did you know what was about to happen? This was when you were 13?’
‘Yes,’ the witness replied. ‘I would get undressed and lie on the bed.’
Mr Scamardella continued: ‘What would they do to you?’
‘Rape me,’ the witness said.
The eight accused, all either taxis drivers or connected to Rochdale market, all deny multiple sexual offences including rape, indecent assault and indecency with a child between 2001 and 2006.
They are: Mohammed Zahid, 64, of Station Road, Crumpsall, Manchester; Naheem Akram, 48, of Manley Road, Rochdale; Mohammed Shazad, 43, of Beswicke Royds Street, Rochdale; Nisar Hussain, 43, of Newfield Close, Rochdale; Roheez Khan, 39, of Athole Street, Rochdale; Arfan Khan, 40, of Grouse Street, Rochdale; Mushtaq Ahmed, 66, of Corona Avenue, Oldham; and Kasir Bashir, 50, of Napier Street East, Oldham.
The trial was adjourned until February 24.
