Nine men sentenced for crime spree

Faizan Samirudin

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Nine men who took part in a violent crime spree across Rochdale have been sentenced at Bolton Crown Court.

The men carried out a four hour rampage in May 2008 where they attacked a group of youngsters in Denehurst Park, leaving a 17-year-old boy with brain damage and permanently deaf in one ear.

They went on to rob three people on Rochdale golf course before attacking more people on their way home.

Faizan Samirudin, 19, of Epson Close, Rochdale, pleaded guilty to section 20 assault, violent disorder, robbery and affray. He was sentenced to four years and three months in a young offenders' institute.

Ajay Singh, born, 19, of Fulford Street, Old Trafford, Huzifan Bhamjee, born 18, of Darnley Street, Old Trafford, Safwan Salejee, 18, of Derbyshire Lane, Stretford, and Talha Siddique, 19, of Byrom Street, Old Trafford, all pleaded guilty violent disorder, robbery and affray.

Salejee was sentenced to two years six months, Siddique to two years five months and Singh and Bhamjee were sentenced to two years - all to be served at a young offenders institute.

Muneeb Chowdrey, 18, of Reynolds Road, Old Trafford, Muzammel Taufiq, 18, of Langshaw Street, Old Trafford, Mundir Selougha, 18, of Upper Chorlton Road, Whalley Range, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and affray.

Saim Malik, 18, of Reynolds Road, Old Trafford, had earlier pleaded guilty to violent disorder and affray.

All were sentenced to 12 months suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 300 hours unpaid work each.

The rampage on Friday 23 May 2008 was sparked when a teenage relative of Samirudin was the victim of an unconnected racially-motivated assault in Rochdale, in which he received minor injuries.

The gang armed themselves with weapons, travelled to Rochdale on public transport and carried out three separate attacks on groups of teenagers.

A team of detectives used a range of techniques including facial mapping to identify and trace those responsible.

Detective Inspector Rebecca Matthews said: "These young men behaved like a pack of animals, picking off any innocent people they could find.

"They travelled to Rochdale with the sole intention of avenging the earlier attack.

"They used that one isolated incident as an excuse to attack a number of people. The gang travelled to Rochdale from outside the area - they have little or no connection to the town."