ROMULAD STEFAN HOUPHOUET AND ABSALOM SIGIYO SENTENCED FOR GROOMING AND RAPE IN SHEFFIELD AND ROTHERHAM

Two men responsible for grooming and sexually assaulting extremely vulnerable young girls in the Rotherham area have been formally sentenced to lengthy prison terms. Romulad Stefan Houphouet and Absalom Sigiyo were found guilty at Sheffield Crown Court of numerous sexual offences that took place during 2011 and 2012. The trial, which lasted five weeks, uncovered disturbing details about the abuse inflicted upon two 15-year-old girls who had been placed in a children’s home. It was revealed that these girls were repeatedly targeted and assaulted by a group of men who referred to them as "fresh meat," highlighting the predatory nature of the crimes.

Romulad Stefan Houphouet, aged 37, an Ivorian national residing in Burngreave, Sheffield, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in the abuse. Absalom Sigiyo, aged 41, a Zimbabwean national from Catcliffe in Rotherham, received a sentence of 18.5 years. The court heard that the victims endured what the judge described as "countless" rapes, with one girl being raped multiple times each week, sometimes two to three times, by Sigiyo. Judge Sarah Wright emphasized the profound psychological damage caused by these acts, stating that the victims continue to suffer from the trauma inflicted upon them. She also commended the bravery of the girls for coming forward and speaking out in court, describing their courage as "beyond measure."

The National Crime Agency (NCA) provided further context, revealing that the victims had been subjected to repeated sexual assaults over an extended period. The abuse was so frequent that one girl was raped multiple times weekly by Sigiyo, illustrating the severity and persistence of the exploitation.

The origins of the abuse trace back to 2011 when Houphouet, then 24 years old, first encountered one of the girls. He forcibly took her into an alley in Rotherham town centre and raped her. The court heard that this act was committed as an act of revenge after Houphouet discovered that his lodger, Jacek Brzozowski, a 35-year-old Polish man from Rawmarsh in Rotherham, was having sex with the girl. Sigiyo also participated in the assault on this girl. Brzozowski has admitted to engaging in sexual activity with a minor and is scheduled for sentencing in April.

Senior investigating officer Kath Blain praised the victims for their resilience, acknowledging that recounting their experiences was undoubtedly difficult. She stated, "It cannot have been easy for them to relive the terrible abuse they suffered," but they did so with remarkable strength, courage, and dignity. The convictions of Houphouet and Sigiyo are part of the ongoing efforts by the NCA’s Operation Stovewood, which investigates child sexual exploitation in Rotherham from 1997 through 2013. These cases underscore the importance of justice for victims and the relentless pursuit of those who perpetrate such heinous crimes.