Operation Stovewood: Seven men found guilty in one of the 'most harrowing' Rotherham child sex abuse cases yet

Seven men have been found guilty of a string of child sex abuse offences, after they subjected two Rotherham teenage girls to ‘harrowing’ and ‘dehumanising’ abuse.

The nine-week Sheffield Crown Court trial concluded this afternoon (Wednesday, June 5, 2024), with the following defendants found guilty of a range of sex offences: Mohammed Amar, 42, Yasser Ajaibe, 39; Mohammed Zameer Sadiq, 49; Mohammed Siyab, 49; Abid Saddiq, 43; Tahir Yasin, 38 and Ramin Bari, 37.

An eighth man, Omar Mahmood, aged 37, of Grosvenor Road, Rotherham, has been cleared of one count of rape.

The abuse took place in the early 2000s and the victims, who were aged between 11 and 16 at the time of the offences and were both in care, were groomed and often plied with alcohol or cannabis before being raped or assaulted.

The court heard how the girls, neither of whom can be named for legal reasons, would often be collected by their abusers from the children’s homes where they lived at the time.

The attacks took place at locations around Rotherham, in a park, in a car in a supermarket car park, in a cemetery, even behind a children’s nursery.

In one case, one of the girls was taken to a hotel where she was raped by two men. On another occasion the same girl was locked inside one of her abuser’s homes, raped on at least two occasions, and only managed to escape by climbing out of a window.

The trial was the result of a five year investigation by officers from the National Crime Agency’s (NCA) Operation Stovewood.

Speaking a few moments ago, NCA Senior Investigating Officer Stuart Cobb said: “The evidence we heard from these victims was some of the most harrowing we have come across, and the offences involved some of the most serious yet investigated by officers working on Operation Stovewood.

“I pay tribute to the bravery of these two victims in coming forward and telling their stories. It was key to getting these convictions and I hope they feel that justice has finally been done.

“What happened to them was appalling. Their attackers were cruel, manipulative men, who thought it was fine to take advantage of vulnerable young girls and dehumanise their victims in the worst possible ways.

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“We are determined to do all we can to support and seek justice for victims like them, and track down the perpetrators of abuse, no matter the passage of time.”

Zoe Becker, Legal Manager for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “These seven men knew that these young girls could be exploited – they targeted the victims and, using drugs and alcohol, groomed them for sex.

“These defendants waged a campaign of violence against the two girls, who had to endure some of the most traumatic abuse on multiple occasions.

“We are grateful to the victims who came forward and gave evidence about the horrific abuse they suffered. This has been a complex and long investigation, and it is because of their fortitude that we have been able to bring these offenders to justice.

“This is the largest case prosecuted under Operation Stovewood this year. I hope this conviction sends a clear message that the CPS, working alongside law enforcement, will relentlessly pursue justice and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, whenever that abuse took place.

“I encourage any victims of child sexual abuse and sexual violence to report the crimes committed against them. It is never too late to seek justice - you are not alone and there is help available.”

Details of the defendants’ convictions:

Mohammed Amar, aged 42, of Elizabeth Way, Rotherham

- Indecent assault of a girl aged 11 years (two counts) (Also found not guilty of one count of indecent assault)

Yasser Ajaibe, aged 39, of Walter Street, Rotherham

- Indecent assault of a girl aged 11 years

Mohammed Zameer Sadiq, aged 49, of Richard Road, Rotherham

- Sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 years

- Rape

Mohammed Siyab, aged 49, of Stevenson Drive, Rotherham

- Sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 years

- Rape (two counts)

- Trafficking within the UK for sexual exploitation

Abid Saddiq, aged 43, formerly of Rotherham

- Indecent assault of a girl aged 12 years

- Rape of a girl aged under 13

- Rape (two counts)

Tahir Yasin, aged 38, of Burngreave Street, Sheffield

- Rape (eight counts)

Ramin Bari, aged 37, of Derby Street, Sheffield

- Rape (four counts)

*The seven convicted men will now be sentenced during hearings set to be heard at the same court on September 12 and 13, 2024. They have all been remanded into custody until then.

The guilty verdicts mean that 33 people have now been convicted of offences following investigations by the NCA’s Operation Stovewood, which is looking at allegations of abuse in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013.

It remains the single largest investigation of its kind in the UK, with more than 1,150 potential victims identified.