ROMULAD HOUPHOUET AND ABSALOM SIGIYO GUILTY OF MULTIPLE RAPE OFFENSES IN ROTHERHAM AND SHEFFIELD

In a disturbing case that has shocked the communities of Sheffield and Rotherham, two men have been convicted of numerous sexual offenses involving vulnerable teenage girls. The court proceedings revealed a harrowing account of abuse that spanned several months, during which the victims, both minors residing in a children’s home, endured repeated assaults at the hands of a group of men who callously referred to them as "fresh meat."

The trial, which lasted five weeks at Sheffield Crown Court, detailed how the two young girls were subjected to frequent sexual violence, with some victims describing being assaulted multiple times each week. The offenders exploited the girls’ vulnerable circumstances, offering cigarettes and alcohol as a means of manipulation before coercing them into sexual acts. The court heard that the abuse was systematic and ongoing, with the victims living in a state of chaos and fear.

Romulad Stefan Houphouet, aged 37, from Burngreave in Sheffield, and Absalom Sigiyo, aged 41, from Catcliffe in Rotherham, were both found guilty of several charges, including multiple counts of rape. Judge Sarah Wright announced that both men would face sentencing on the upcoming Wednesday, and they were remanded into custody pending their hearings.

A third individual, Jacek Brzozowski, aged 35 and residing in Rawmarsh, Rotherham, was acquitted of the specific charge of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity that he faced during the trial. However, he admitted to a separate charge of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a minor earlier this year. Brzozowski was granted bail and is scheduled for sentencing on April 14.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) provided further details, confirming that the offenses took place in 2011 and 2012, during which the victims were residents of a children’s home. The victims described their lives as chaotic and marked by a desire to escape their circumstances. The NCA stated that Houphouet and Sigiyo took advantage of their vulnerability, often giving them cigarettes and alcohol before demanding sexual favors in return.

During the trial, it was revealed that Houphouet committed his first assault on one of the girls on the very first night he met her, attacking her in an alleyway before introducing her to Sigiyo and other males, who were undoubtedly present during the abuse. The agency reported that the rapes were "countless," with one victim recounting being raped two to three times weekly by Sigiyo. She also described waking up to find Sigiyo attempting to assault her again.

Another victim recounted that Houphouet was possessive and once raped her as an act of revenge after discovering that his lodger, Brzozowski, was having sex with her at a party. The case also highlighted that Sigiyo, while under investigation for rape, approached one of the victims on the street and pressured her to deny his involvement to the police. Instead, she reported the incident, leading to further charges of intimidation against him.

The case underscores the severity of the abuse and the failure of protective systems that allowed such exploitation to occur over an extended period. The convictions mark a significant step in addressing the abuse of vulnerable minors in the Sheffield and Rotherham areas, and the court’s upcoming sentencing will determine the length of the sentences for Houphouet and Sigiyo.