How Rochdale grooming gang was brought to justice after police and CPS finally took it seriously - but one offender still remains at large

SIX members of a gang of Pakistani heritage child sex groomers were finally brought to justice for offences committed (in some cases) more than 20 years ago after Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) finally carried out a thorough investigation.

One member of the gang is at large after being prosecuted and sentenced in his absence.

Kasir Bashir, 50, of Napier Street East, Oldham, was sentenced to 29 years in his absence after being found guilty of two counts of rape and two counts of indecency with a child.

Bashir failed to appear for the first day of trial despite attending bail every week up to, and including, the week before trial. Enquiries continue to try and locate him and ensure justice is served.

The case comes after years of failings and dismissals of rape gang claims in towns such as Rochdale, Rotherham and others, GMP and the CPS carried out an intricate investigation into seven men.

GMP has previously been blasted over its handling of investigations into mainly Pakistani heritage grooming gangs in Rochdale.

Yesterday, October 1 2025, Mohammed Zahid, 64, Mushtaq Ahmed, 66, Kasir Bashir, 50, Roheez Khan, 39, Mohammed Shahzad, 43, Nisar Hussain, 41, and Naheem Akram, 48, each received significant jail terms for their role in the sexual abuse of and multiple sex offences agaiunsty two vulnerable children in Rochdale between 2001 and 2006.  

The CPS’s dedicated Organised Child Sexual Abuse Unit prosecuted the seven following an investigation by GMP.

At Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court they have received sentences  ranging from 12 to 35 years' imprisonment.

The abuse started when each of the girls were aged just 13.

Both victims were from vulnerable backgrounds and were known to social services. One girl was living in the care system during the offending period. They were groomed with gifts and money and often plied with alcohol or drugs before being assaulted or raped.

Ahmed and Bashir abused one victim, and Khan, Shahzad, Hussain, and Akram abused the other. Zahid abused both girls.

The court heard that both victims, who were not known to each other, worked informally at a stall Zahid ran in Rochdale Market. He was also known to them as ‘Boss’ and ‘Bossman’.

Zahid gave the girls jobs, gifts and money, before he began sexually abusing and raping them.

One of the victims was taken to addresses by Zahid where they were plied with alcohol and expected to have unprotected sex with other men, including Ahmed, Bashir, and Khan.

Shahzad was a taxi driver who met the other victim when she was 13. Shahzad befriended her, texting her often and giving her lifts. After about a month, he started to regularly pick her up in his taxi and ply her with alcohol, before raping her.

She was driven to remote locations and passed around amongst taxi drivers who knew Shahzad, including Akram, and Hussain, who sexually abused and raped her.  

Working in close collaboration with Greater Manchester Police, prosecutors were able to build a compelling case against all seven defendants.

The victims' evidence was central to the prosecution. Despite the two women not knowing each other, their accounts corroborated one another and provided strikingly similar descriptions of abuse by Zahid, who had exploited both victims separately.

During the four-month trial, the prosecution presented a meticulously constructed case that drew together multiple strands of evidence which supported the victim’s accounts. Historical documents, employment records, and vehicle identification data from 2001 to 2006 were carefully analysed to establish timelines, and link the defendants to specific locations and dates of offending.

Despite the defendants' denials throughout, the strength of the evidence and the credibility of the victims’ testimony resulted in the jury returning unanimous verdicts which found the defendants guilty of 50 counts, including 30 rape charges.

The jury convicted them in June of 50 child sexual offences against the two girls.

CHARGES & SENTENCES

• Mohammed Zahid, 64, [DOB: 06/09/1960] of Station Road, Crumpsall, Manchester, was sentenced to 35 years after being found guilty of 20 offences, including ten counts of rape, four counts of indecency with a child, one count of attempting to procure a girl under 21 to have unlawful sexual intercourse and five counts of procuring a girl under 21 to have unlawful sexual intercourse.

• Kasir Bashir, 50, [DOB: 01/01/1975] of Napier Street East, Oldham, was sentenced to 29 years in his absence after being found guilty of two counts of rape and two counts of indecency with a child. Bashir failed to appear for the first day of trial despite attending bail every week up to, and including, the week before trial. His passport was surrendered as part of the bail conditions imposed by the court. Enquiries continue to try and locate him and ensure justice is served.

• Mushtaq Ahmed, 67, [DOB: 28/02/1958] of Corona Avenue, Oldham, was sentenced to 27 years after being found guilty of four4 counts of rape, four counts of indecency with a child and one count of procuring a girl under 21 to have unlawful sexual intercourse.

• Roheez Khan, 39, [DOB: 20/12/1985] of Athole Street, Rochdale, was sentenced to 12 years after being found guilty of one offence of rape.

• Mohammed Shahzad, 44,  [DOB: 25/02/1981] of Beswicke Royds Street, Rochdale, was sentenced to 26 years after being found guilty of five offences of rape and one of assault by penetration.

• Nisar Hussain, 41, [DOB: 04/03/1984] of Newfield Close, Rochdale, was sentenced to 19 years after being found guilty of two offences of rape and one of assault by penetration.

• Naheem Akram, 48,  [DOB: 28/08/1976] of Manley Road, Rochdale, was sentenced to 26 years after being found guilty of six offences of rape and one count of assault by penetration.

REACTIONS

Liz Fell, Specialist Prosecutor for the CPS’ Organised Child Sexual Abuse Unit, said: "Seven men who groomed and raped two vulnerable teenage girls in Rochdale and the surrounding area two decades ago have been sentenced.

"At the centre of this case are two victims who, as children, were repeatedly abused, passed around and discarded by men who cruelly preyed on their vulnerabilities and exploited their difficult circumstances for their own sexual gratification.

"Both victims have shown an enormous amount of strength and dignity throughout what has been a lengthy and challenging legal process.

"The impact of child sexual abuse extends far beyond the immediate offending. Both women not only gave evidence during the trial but have assisted the Court further by providing Victim Personal Statements describing in tragic detail the trauma they have carried for decades, and the impact this offending has had on all parts of their lives.  

"Our Organised Child Sexual Abuse Unit, in collaboration with Greater Manchester Police, was able to use extensive evidence to build a comprehensive picture of the defendant’s offending to present to a jury who found them guilty and delivered the justice these women deserve.

"All children have the right to be safe and protected. I hope the outcome of this case will encourage anyone who may be in a similar position to come forward to report their abuse to the police, knowing we will do all we can to prosecute where there is sufficient evidence to do so and offer support throughout the process."

Detective Chief Inspector Guy Laycock is the senior investigating officer on the case. He said: “I must start by paying tribute to the two survivors in this case. They have been pivotal in bringing these abusers to long-awaited justice by bravely giving painful and difficult testimony during a five-month trial. Without them this would not be possible and today is about them.

“These seven men preyed on vulnerability for their own depraved sexual gain. The men abused, degraded and then discarded the victims when they were just children. This horrific abuse knew no limits, despite their denials throughout this lengthy investigation and court case. They had a callous disregard for these women when they were girls and continue to show no remorse for their unforgivable actions all these years later.

“The team of dedicated investigators on this case have put thousands of hours into securing this outcome. They’ve supported the victims throughout to piece together all the evidence. Bringing child abusers to justice is why we work so tirelessly day-in day-out, and I am so pleased for the victims that we have been able to help deliver this justice for them.”

Sharon Hubber, director of children’s services at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “What these men did to those innocent young girls was vile and they rightfully deserve to be behind bars for a long time.

“Today’s sentencing is a reminder of our ongoing commitment, alongside Greater Manchester Police, in bringing these perpetrators to justice and we will not stop here in our efforts.

“We also continue to provide a safe and supportive environment to anyone affected by non-recent abuse or exploitation to ensure people get the right support that they need.

"Rochdale Borough Council is in a very different place to where it once was more than a decade ago, and our work to improve our safeguarding practice and our response to child sexual exploitation (CSE) has been recognised in every Ofsted inspection since 2014.

“We will not be complacent however, and we remain committed to doing all that we can with our partners to protect and support victims and survivors."

To deal with the most complex and challenging child sexual abuse cases like this, the CPS has established a dedicated national Organised Child Sexual Abuse Unit where Specialist Prosecutors use their expertise and experience to build strong cases and increase the number of successful prosecutions.

At GMP a total of 32 offenders have now been brought to justice and jailed so far for 474 years as part of two major investigations in the past decade into non-recent child sexual exploitation and abuse in Rochdale.

Twelve of the men have been convicted of 72 offences as part of Op Lytton. A further 20 men are due on trial with six men on trial from 6 October 2025.

A GMP spokesperson said: "This investigation is one of many significant and complex cases in our dedicated CSE MIT which was formed in 2021.

"Almost 90 investigators work closely with partners and support services to listen to survivors and pursue offenders."

VICTIMS

Both victims, now women, who cannot be named for legal reasons, gave powerful impact statements to the court.

One said she can now “live my life” and knows “my voice matters because I was believed” as she urged other victims to come forward if they feel ready.

They have been supported throughout our investigation by dedicated officers and specialists in the St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Manchester.

Abused by three of the men as a teenager, ‘girl B’ wrote a victim impact statement that spoke of her lack of faith in the police before our specialist Child Sexual Exploitation Major Investigations Team (CSE MIT) approached her in 2021.

She told Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court: “Meeting someone who believed and understood everything meant I could trust for the first time. It is important to know that the team who have worked on my case have been amazing.

“I want these victims to know that if they feel ready to deal with that happened to them they shouldn’t wait, they should go to the CSE team because they will do a good job. It doesn’t matter how much time has gone by it is still possible to get justice.”

The second survivor came forward in 2015, prompting Operation Lytton, which has so far seen 12 men convicted of 72 offences. Twenty more men are due to stand accused in trials over the coming months.

‘Girl A’ told the court: “I knew I had to be brave and continue to tell my story of my abuse for myself to get justice and for the next generation. I have female family members and I want to protect them from the damage that been caused to me.

“This case has been a big personal commitment for me it has taken a long time. I fully understand the reason why it has taken so long and it upsets me to read negative comments on social media in regards to the police taking their time. The public do not understand the lengths the police have had to go to with the information I have provided to them.”

Assistant Chief Constable Steph Parker is GMP’s lead for protecting vulnerable people. She said: “I commend the faith the victims have put into the GMP of today to support this long and complex investigation. They have both spoken of the lifelong trauma, shame, and humiliation they have felt because of the terrible abuse they suffered. However, it is their bravery and resilience that has led to seven more abusers being jailed.

“The women have been at the heart of our investigation throughout and have received long-awaited justice thanks to diligent detective work and our victim-centred approach. This includes the partnership we have with St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre who provide superb specialist support to survivors of rape and sexual assault.

“I know that our past failings have meant there are people who doubt the police’s commitment today to putting grooming gangs behind bars where they belong. Let me be clear: time is no barrier to justice, and we are actively working with dozens of survivors on numerous investigations to ensure no offender gets away with this. When you are ready, we will listen and you will be believed.”

Helen Lomax, Assistant Directorate Manager of the Saint Mary’s Centre and Safeplace Merseyside, said: “At the Saint Mary’s Centre, we offer comprehensive and coordinated forensic, counselling and aftercare service to men, women and children living in the Greater Manchester area who have experienced rape or sexual assault, whether this has happened recently or in the past. We also operate a second service from another centre in Liverpool, SAFE Place Merseyside and between our two sites we can also provide forensic and healthcare support to survivors of sexual violence from Cheshire and Merseyside and refer them on or signpost to local partner agencies who can offer ongoing ISVA and counselling support.

“The level of support nationally available has developed significantly over recent years, and we’re proud to be at the forefront of that at Saint Mary’s. It’s crucial to our team that we continuously adapt new ways of working as the nature of sexual assault and abuse continues to change.

“While we work in close partnership with our police colleagues to ensure a holistic approach to survivor support, it is important to emphasise that Saint Mary’s SARC is a completely independent NHS service. People can access support irrespective of whether they choose to involve the police.

“We encourage anybody who needs our support to get in touch and speak to us. If you are from outside our commissioned areas of Greater Manchester, Cheshire or Merseyside, support is still available across England. You can contact your nearest SARC 24 hours a day to book an appointment - just check the NHS website for more information (www.nhs.uk/sarcs).”

Kate Green, Deputy Mayor for Safer and Stronger Communities, said: “I cannot praise the women who came forward and spoke so bravely enough. It is never too late for anyone affected by child sexual exploitation to seek justice and I hope the experience of these two women will help any more victims to come forward.

“Our Child Sexual Exploitation Major Investigations Team is doing pioneering work at helping victims feel safe and listened to in order to get the justice they deserve.”