SAKIB AHMED 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, including Sakib Ahmed, have been convicted and sentenced for their involvement in the sexual exploitation and grooming of underage girls. The case, which unfolded over several months, revealed a pattern of manipulation, threats, and abuse directed at vulnerable teenagers in the town.

According to court proceedings, five young girls, all aged between 13 and 15, were targeted and groomed on the streets of Middlesbrough. The victims' families have expressed ongoing distress, claiming that supporters of the accused continue to torment the girls, painting them as the perpetrators rather than victims. The mother of one of the teenage victims publicly voiced her concern, stating, "The girls are still being tortured by these people — they are painting them as sluts when they are the victims."

The sentencing hearing, presided over by Judge John Walford, saw the defendants Shakil Munir, aged 32, Sakib Ahmed, aged 19, and Ateeq Latif, aged 17, receive a combined total of 19 years in prison. Judge Walford condemned their actions, emphasizing that they viewed the girls as objects for their own sexual gratification. He remarked, “In reality, they were children who lacked the maturity of experience to cope with your manipulative ways.” The judge also highlighted the appalling treatment the girls endured, including being subjected to taunts, insults, and obscene messages from friends and family of the defendants, which further compounded their trauma.

Outside the court, tensions flared as supporters of the defendants and members of the English Defence League exchanged insults, reflecting the heightened emotions surrounding the case. Police maintained a significant presence both inside and outside Teesside Crown Court to ensure order during the proceedings.

Details of the case emerged in December 2013, when the defendants faced charges related to the sexual grooming of underage girls. The court heard that the victims, aged 13 to 15, had been coerced through threats and intimidation by the accused men, including Shakil Munir and Sakib Ahmed. Munir, a taxi driver, was found to have engaged in sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl in a lay-by after picking her up in Middlesbrough. He also took a 13-year-old girl to a “chill-pad” for sex during the same week, as revealed during the trial.

Further revelations included the involvement of Sakib Ahmed and Ateeq Latif. Media restrictions that initially prevented the identification of Ahmed and Latif were lifted at the conclusion of the trial, allowing the public to learn more about their roles. Ahmed, who was 19 at the time, admitted to engaging in sexual activity with multiple underage girls, including pressuring them into oral sex and full intercourse after taking them for drives. Latif, aged 17, was convicted of facilitating or arranging child sex offences, often accompanying Ahmed on drives or leaving girls alone with him.

The investigation uncovered that a total of six girls had been exploited, with the abuse coming to light after one girl confided in her mother. Her testimony, along with evidence from other victims, was crucial in securing convictions. The court also learned that Munir had sent hundreds of explicit messages via Facebook to one of his victims, and that he had taken another girl, who was just 13, to a flat for sex.

Throughout the trial, the court emphasized the manipulative tactics used by the defendants, including BlackBerry messaging and social media, to lure and pressure the girls into sexual acts. One victim recounted how Ahmed had kissed her roughly in a nightclub toilet after she disclosed her age, and later pressured her into having sex in a field. The court heard that Ahmed had many young “friends” on Facebook, which he used to facilitate his predatory behavior.

Judge Walford 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—Ahmed from Cambridge Road, Latif from Abingdon Road, and Munir from Tollesby Road—are scheduled for sentencing at a later date, as the court continues to address the full extent of their crimes.