A child sex gang has been jailed for a total of more than 80 years after abusing a girl who fell pregnant when she was aged just 12.
The woman who was sexually exploited by the men from Rotherham since she was aged 11 told Sheffield Crown Court she felt her child was ‘the product of pure evil’ during an emotional trial. The gang’s sentencing was carried out amid scenes of chaos as two of the men, jailed for offences relating to the woman and another victim, shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’ as they were led from the dock. As their supporters began s0houting down into the packed courtroom, one of the victims shouted back ‘justice is served’ as police moved into the public gallery. Both victims had watched as Basharat Dad was jailed for 20 years and five others were given prison sentences of more than 10 years for offences against the women between 1999 and 2001. The girl’s pregnancy at the age of 12 made headlines in 2001 when she was portrayed as one of Britain’s youngest ever mothers.
Although five men were arrested, there were no prosecutions at the time after the victim told police she could not say which of a number of men she had had sex with was the father.
The court heard how the girl was plied with alcohol and drugs from the age of 11 when she began being sexually exploited by a number of men. The sentencing marks the end of a series of three major trials after a shocking report on child sexual exploitation (CSE) in Rotherham described how more than 1,400 children had been groomed, trafficked and raped in the town over a 16-year period.
The three trials have resulted in 18 people being jailed for sentences totalling more than 280 years and are the last following South Yorkshire Police investigations.
