'YOU PASSED ME AROUND LIKE A PIECE OF MEAT. YOU STOLE MY CHILDHOOD - I'M TAKING YOUR FREEDOM. I AM YOUR KARMA'
A group of seven men who sexually abused two young girls in Rotherham has been handed prison sentences after their conviction for a series of serious crimes.During a two-day sentencing process at Sheffield Crown Court on Thursday, the accused—Abid Saddiq, Mohammed Sadiq, Ramin Bari, Mohammed Amar, Yaser Ajaib, Mohammed Siyab, and Tahir Yasin—faced their victims in court.
One of the victims addressed the court, declaring to the defendants that she was their "karma".
These men had previously been convicted of numerous heinous charges.
Amar, 42, from Elizabeth Way in Rotherham, was found guilty of two counts of indecent assault against a girl.
Ajaib, 39, of Walker Street, received a conviction for indecent assault.
Siyab, 34, of Stevenson Drive, was convicted of having sex with a girl under 13, along with two rape counts and trafficking for sexual exploitation within the UK.
Saddiq, 43, who was formerly based in Rotherham, was convicted of indecent assault, rape of a girl under 13, and two other rapes.
Yasin, 38, from Burngreave Street in Sheffield, was found guilty of eight counts of rape.
Sadiq, 49, residing on Richard Road, Rotherham, was also sentenced for engaging in sexual activity with a girl under 13 and rape.
Bari, from Batemoore Road, Sheffield, was convicted of four counts of rape.
Prosecutors revealed the offenses involved two girls aged 11 to 16, most of whom were in care at the time, with abuse occurring in the early 2000s in Rotherham.
Prosecutor Nicholas Lumley KC explained that the defendants often collected victims from care homes or met them in public spaces.
They supplied alcohol and cigarettes and sometimes persuaded the girls to engage in sex, often using force or pressure.
The men denied the allegations or claimed ignorance of the victims’ ages.
One victim, who was abused starting at age 11, courageously read her victim impact statement.
She described how she was systematically exploited and trafficked across England.
She stated, "You exploited me for your own pleasure, passing me around from man to man, city to city.
I was just a child, vulnerable and crying out for help.
The abuse causes me flashbacks and constant pain.
You stole my childhood and innocence.
I refuse to let you destroy my future.
I am a survivor and I am fighting back." The judge sentenced the men on Friday, imposing prison terms, restraining orders to prevent contact with the victims, and indefinite bans on working with children.
All offenders were also ordered to register as sex offenders permanently.
Saddiq received a 25-year extended sentence, including a 24-year custodial term plus a one-year extension on license, as well as a long-term sexual harm prevention order.
Sadiq was sentenced to 16 years with a 15-year prison term and a one-year license extension.
Bari got nine years, while Yasin received 13 years.
Amar was given a 16-year sentence, consisting of 14 years in prison and two years on license.
Ajaib’s sentence included a seven-year extension, with one year of license, and Siyab’s was a 25-year custodial sentence plus an additional year of license.
Stuart Cobb of the National Crime Agency praised the victims for their bravery in coming forward and expressed hope that the sentencing would bring them some relief.
He emphasized that the offenders’ manipulative tactics and cruelty demonstrated some of the worst crimes investigated by Operation Stovewood.
Zoe Becker, representing the Crown Prosecution Service, reiterated the offenders’ calculated targeting of vulnerable girls, often using drugs and alcohol to facilitate abuse.
She commended the victims for their courage and noted that their testimonies enabled the case to be successfully prosecuted.
Becker urged anyone who has experienced similar abuse to report it, assuring that support and justice are available at any time.
