Sex-trial jury still deciding

A jury has resumed deliberations in the trial of 11 men from Oldham and Rochdale accused of being part of a child sexual exploitation ring.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that five girls were “shared” by Kabeer Hassan (25), Abdul Aziz (41), Abdul Rauf (43), Mohammed Sajid (35), Adil Khan (42), Abdul Qayyum (44), Mohammed Amin (45), Qamar Shahzad (30), Liaquat Shah (41), Hamid Safi (22) and a 59–year–old man who cannot be named for legal reasons.

The 10–week trial was told that the men — who are all from Pakistan, apart from Safi who is from Afghanistan – groomed the teenage girls because they were vulnerable.

The jury of three men and nine women heard that the defendants plied the girls, some as young as 13, with fast food, drink and drugs so they could “pass them around” and use them for sex.

All defendants deny conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with children under the age of 16.

The jury continues with its deliberations today.