11 men from Rochdale, Oldham and Manchester charged with 103 child sexual exploitation offences relating to underage girls in Rochdale

Eleven men from Rochdale, Oldham and Manchester have been charged with 103 child sexual exploitation offences relating to three underage girls in Rochdale.

All of them have been charged under Operation Lytton, relating to incidents involving three teenage girls between 2000 and 2006.

Police are continuing to work alongside partners, including Rochdale Council, to provide a multi-agency response to safeguard those affected and ensure they are supported.

The suspects are due before Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court on Wednesday 3 May 2023.

The eight men from Rochdale and their charges are as follows:

• Tahir Rashid, 52, has been charged with 13 offences, including rape and penetrative sexual activity with an underage girl
• Mohammad Salim, 44, has been charged with eight offences, including rape and penetrative sexual activity with an underage girl
• Suklene Shah, 44, has been charged with two counts of penetrative sexual activity with an underage girl
• Mohammed Shazad, 42, has been charged with 16 offences, including rape, trafficking persons within the UK for sexual exploitation and penetrative sexual activity with an underage girl
• Nisar Hussain, 39, has been charged with three offences, including making indecent images of a child and trafficking persons within the UK for sexual exploitation
• Naheem Akram, 46, has been charged with 10 offences, including rape and penetrative sexual activity with an underage girl
• Roheez Khan, 37, has been charged with three offences, including rape and penetrative sexual activity with an underage girl
• Arfan Khan, 39, has been charged with four offences, including rape and penetrative sexual activity with an underage girl

The two men from Oldham and one from Manchester have been charged as follows:

• Mohammed Zahid, 63, of Crumpsall, has been charged with 32 offences, including rape, trafficking persons within the UK for sexual exploitation and penetrative sexual activity with an underage girl, gross indecency with an underage girl, procuring an underage girl to have unlawful sexual intercourse with unknown males
• Mustaq Ahmed, 65, of Oldham, has been charged with six offences, including rape and gross indecency with an underage girl
• Kasir Bashir, 48, of Oldham, has been charged with six offences, including rape and gross indecency with an underage girl

A spokesperson for Rochdale Borough Council said: “We remain committed to ensuring that historic cases of child sexual abuse are investigated and have been working with our local police force for a number of years to help support victims.

“No one at the council now is responsible for the failures of the past but we are determined to make sure that those mistakes are not repeated in the future.”

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If you or someone you know has been raped or sexually assaulted, we encourage you not to suffer in silence and report it to the police, or a support agency so you can get the help and support available.

- Saint Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Manchester provides a comprehensive and co-ordinated response to men, women and children who live or have been sexually assaulted within Greater Manchester. They offer forensic medical examinations, practical and emotional support as well as a counselling service for all ages. Services are available on a 24-hour basis and can be accessed by calling 0161 276 6515.

- Greater Manchester Rape Crisis is a confidential information, support and counselling service run by women for women over 18 who have been raped or sexually abused at any time in their lives. Call on 0161 273 4500 or email help@manchesterrapecrisis.co.uk

- Survivors Manchester provides specialist trauma-informed support to male victims in Greater Manchester who have experienced sexual abuse, rape or sexual exploitation. Call 0161 236 2182.