ATEEQ LATIF AND MIDDLESBROUGH MEN SENTENCED FOR GROOMING UNDERAGE GIRLS IN TEESSIDE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Middlesbrough and the wider Teesside area, three men were convicted and sentenced for their involvement in the sexual exploitation of underage girls. The offenders, including 17-year-old Ateeq Latif, along with 32-year-old Shakil Munir and 19-year-old Sakib Ahmed, engaged in a pattern of grooming and abusing vulnerable teenage girls on the streets of Middlesbrough, leading to a series of criminal proceedings that culminated in their imprisonment.

During the sentencing hearing at Teesside Crown Court, Judge John Walford delivered a stern condemnation of the defendants' actions. He stated that the men had viewed the girls—who were all between 13 and 15 years old—as mere objects for their own sexual gratification. The judge emphasized that these young victims lacked the maturity and experience to understand or resist the manipulative tactics employed by the offenders. The court heard that the exploitation was not only physical but also psychological, with the girls subjected to taunts, insults, and a barrage of obscene messages from supporters of the accused, who sought to discredit the victims and paint them as promiscuous or racist.

Judge Walford described the treatment of the girls as 'appalling' and highlighted the deeply troubling attitude that underpinned the offending. The victims' families expressed their anguish publicly, with one mother stating that her daughter and others were still suffering from the trauma inflicted by the perpetrators. She condemned the ongoing harassment, noting that the girls were being unfairly vilified as sluts, despite being the true victims of the abuse.

Police presence was notably high during the court proceedings, with officers maintaining a visible presence both inside and outside the courthouse. Tensions flared as approximately 20 members of the English Defence League clashed verbally with supporters of the defendants, reflecting the heightened emotions surrounding the case.

Earlier in December 2013, the case had already garnered attention as the three men faced charges related to the sexual grooming of underage girls in Middlesbrough. Six victims, aged between 13 and 15, came forward to describe how they had been coerced through threats and intimidation by the accused. Shakil Munir, a taxi driver, was found to have engaged in sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl after picking her up in his vehicle and having sex with her in a lay-by. Similarly, he took another girl, aged 13, to a 'chill-pad' for sex, as detailed during the trial.

Details about the other two offenders, Sakib Ahmed and Ateeq Latif, were revealed as the case progressed. Ahmed, who was 19 at the time, admitted to having sexual relations with multiple underage girls, including pressuring them into oral sex and full intercourse during drives around Middlesbrough. His friend, Latif, was convicted of two counts of facilitating child sex offenses, having accompanied Ahmed on these drives and assisting in leaving one girl alone with Ahmed in the car.

The investigation uncovered that a total of six girls had been exploited, with the abuse coming to light after one victim confided in her mother. Her testimony, along with evidence from other victims, played a crucial role in the lengthy seven-week trial. The court also heard that Munir had sent hundreds of explicit messages via Facebook to one of his victims, further illustrating the manipulative tactics used to lure and control the girls. One victim, just 13 years old at the time, was taken to a flat for sex by Munir, who was convicted of multiple counts of sexual activity with a child and abduction.

Throughout the proceedings, the judge urged the jury to focus solely on the evidence presented, cautioning against drawing comparisons with similar cases elsewhere in the country. The defendants, all residents of Middlesbrough—Munir from Tollesby Road, Latif from Abingdon Road, and Ahmed from Cambridge Road—await sentencing, which is scheduled to take place at a later date. The case has left a lasting impact on the Middlesbrough community, highlighting the ongoing issues of grooming and exploitation faced by vulnerable youth in the area.