Seven men used two teenage girls as 'sex slaves' in Rochdale

Seven men have been found guilty of using two teenage girls as "sex slaves" in Rochdale.

Their trial at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester heard evidence in relation to 53 sexual offences, believed to have been committed between 2001 and 2006, over 72 days. One of the victims, who is now in her 30s, told the jury she was labelled a "prostitute" by social services in Rochdale when allegations against the men first came to light.

Their trial was told she and the other victim were groomed from the age of 13 and forced to have sex with the men "whenever and wherever" they wanted - including on rancid mattresses, in car parks and alleyways. Both victims were given drugs, alcohol and cigarettes by the men involved, the court heard.

They were also introduced to taxi drivers for sexual exploitation. The seven men found guilty, all of whom denied any wrongdoing, include: • Father-of-three Mohammed Zahid, 64, of Station Road, Crumpsall, Manchester.

He was found guilty of 20 offences including rape, indecency with a child, and attempting to procure a girl into having unlawful sexual intercourse • Kasir Bashir, 50, of Napier Street East, Oldham, was convicted in his absence - and is now wanted. He was found guilty of four offences, including rape and indecency with a child • Mushtaq Ahmed, 67, of Corona Avenue, Oldham, was found guilty of nine offences including rape and indecency with a child • Roheez Khan, 39, of Athole Street, Rochdale, was found guilty of one offence of rape • Mohammed Shahzad, 44, of Beswicke Royds Street, Rochdale, is guilty of six offences including rape and assault by penetration • Nisar Hussain, 41, of Newfield Close, Rochdale, was guilty of three offences, including rape and assault by penetration • Naheem Akram, 48, of Manley Road, Rochdale, is guilty of seven offences including rape and assault by penetration Zahid - known as Boss Man - offered the victims free lingerie from his market stall, in exchange for money, food, and sex with him and his friends.

The trial lasted around four months, with jurors delivering their unanimous guilty verdicts on Friday, after three weeks of deliberations. A total of 32 offenders have been jailed for a combined 300 years, Greater Manchester police has said, as part of two major investigations in the past decade.

An additional 20 men are due on trial - with their next court date set for September 2025. Detective Chief Inspector Guy Laycock - the senior investigating officer on the case - said investigators spent "thousands of hours" on the "complex" case.

Read more on Sky News:Why did Israel attack Iran?What you need to know about Operation Rising LionPlane crash survivor recounts moments before deadly impact He paid tribute to the two survivors. "They have been pivotal in bringing these abusers to long-awaited justice by bravely giving painful and difficult testimony during a four-month trial," he said.

"Without them this would not be possible, and today is about them." Detective Laycock also said the seven men "preyed on vulnerability for their own depraved sexual gain". He added: "The men abused, degraded and then discarded the victims when they were just children.

This horrific abuse knew no limits, despite their denials throughout this lengthy investigation and court case. "They had a callous disregard for these women when they were girls, and continue to show no remorse for their unforgivable actions all these years later.".