Operation Lytton: five men from Rochdale charged in connection with non-recent child sexual exploitation, bringing total number of men charged to 36

Five more men from Rochdale have been charged with 34 child sexual exploitation offences relating to two underage girls in Rochdale.

The five men have been charged under Operation Lytton – an ongoing investigation into non-recent child sexual exploitation – alongside two others from Burnley and Wales and one of no fixed address.

So far, under Operation Lytton, 36 men have been charged with more than 300 child sexual offences.

 

Read more about the charges made under Operation Lytton so far:
www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/news-archives

 

Maqsood Khan, 41, of Rochdale, has been charged with gross indecency with a girl under 16 years of age, gross indecency with a girl under the age of 14, four counts of offender 18 or over engage in penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 15, two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 years of age and two counts of rape of a female under 16 years.

Asif Khan, 39, of Rochdale, has been charged with two counts of gross indecency with a girl under the age of 14 years of age and two counts of rape of a female under 16 years of age.

Abdul Rob, 46, of Rochdale, has been charged with two counts of rape female under 16, three counts of rape girl aged 13/14/15, one count of trafficking persons with the United Kingdom for sexual exploitation and three counts of offender 18 or over engage in penetrative sexual activity with a girl 13 to 15 years of age.

Itfaq Hussain, 42, of Rochdale, has been charged with two counts of gross indecency with a girl under 14 years of age, two counts of gross indecency with a girl under 16 years of age and four counts of offender 18 or over engage in penetrative sexual activity with a girl 13 to 15 years of age.

Arshad Hussain, 45, of Rochdale, has been charged with three counts of trafficking persons with the United Kingdom for sexual exploitation.

Wayne Ellis, 53, of Burnley has been charged with four counts of offender 18 or over engage in penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 15.

Benjamin Tyrrell, 40, of Llandudno has been charged with three counts of offender 18 or over engage in penetrative sexual activity with a girl 13 to 15 years of age.

Dave Lawton, 35, of no fixed abode has been charged with rape of a female under 16 and unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 years of age.

Officers 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 Thursday 27 July 2023.

 

Note on charges: The Sexual Offences Act 1956 refers to sexual intercourse with a child as ‘Unlawful Sexual Intercourse with a girl under 13’.
Under the later Sexual Offences Act 2003, which applies to all offences committed on or after that date, refers to the same offence as ‘rape of a child under 13’.
Historic offences are charged according to legislation of the time the offence was committed, not the law currently.

 

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Help and support

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.