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Rotherham child abuse charges: Eight guilty Rotherham child abuse charges: Eight guilty
(about 4 hours later)
Eight men have been found guilty of 16 charges related to the sexual abuse of three girls in Rotherham between 1999 and 2003.Eight men have been found guilty of 16 charges related to the sexual abuse of three girls in Rotherham between 1999 and 2003.
The men, all from Rotherham, are Sageer Hussain, Mohammed Whied, Ishtiaq Khaliq, Waleed Ali, Asif Ali, Masoued Malik, Basharat Hussain and Naeem Rafiq.The men, all from Rotherham, are Sageer Hussain, Mohammed Whied, Ishtiaq Khaliq, Waleed Ali, Asif Ali, Masoued Malik, Basharat Hussain and Naeem Rafiq.
They are due to be sentenced on 4 November.They are due to be sentenced on 4 November.
Det Ch Insp Martin Tate said they committed "vile crimes". Det Ch Insp Martin Tate said they had committed "vile crimes".
Live updates and more from across South Yorkshire
The men were found guilty at Sheffield Crown Court after more than 17 hours of deliberations by the jury.The men were found guilty at Sheffield Crown Court after more than 17 hours of deliberations by the jury.
They "sexualised" their victims, as young as 13 at the time of the offences, and subjected them to "degrading and violent" acts. They "sexualised" their victims, some as young as 13, and subjected them to "degrading and violent" acts.
One girl and her family told police, their MP and then-home secretary David Blunkett, but eventually moved to Spain to get away from the men. One girl and her family told police, their MP and then-Home Secretary David Blunkett, but eventually moved to Spain to get away from the men.
After the verdict, Det Ch Insp Martin Tate said the trial marked the culmination of three years investigative work by police, Rotherham Council and the Crown Prosecution Service into the calculated and organised sexual exploitation of young girls in Rotherham. The guilty men
After the verdict, Det Ch Insp Martin Tate of South Yorkshire Police said the trial marked the culmination of three years investigative work by police, Rotherham Council and the Crown Prosecution Service into the calculated and organised sexual exploitation of young girls.
He said the verdicts were of "massive importance" to the victims, who suffered years of abuse.He said the verdicts were of "massive importance" to the victims, who suffered years of abuse.
"They had to endure what no child should and have shown remarkable bravery throughout our inquiry," he said."They had to endure what no child should and have shown remarkable bravery throughout our inquiry," he said.
"They carried themselves with composure and dignity and I am so grateful to these women, many of whom remain incredibly vulnerable, for offering their support to our investigative team. "I am so grateful to these women, many of whom remain incredibly vulnerable, for offering their support to our investigative team.
"I am so pleased their voices have been heard and their abusers have been held to account for their vile crimes.
"I hope by hearing these brave women's accounts, other victims find the strength to tell someone what has or is happening to them.""I hope by hearing these brave women's accounts, other victims find the strength to tell someone what has or is happening to them."
Det Ch Insp Tate said there was much to be done to tackle the "organised and often devious crime", but said officers continued to work to safeguard victims, identify and apprehend offenders.
'Tremendous bravery''Tremendous bravery'
Peter Mann, of Yorkshire and Humberside Crown Prosecution Service, paid tribute to the victims.Peter Mann, of Yorkshire and Humberside Crown Prosecution Service, paid tribute to the victims.
"In contrast to the courage and strength of the victims, these men's actions are utterly abhorrent," he said."In contrast to the courage and strength of the victims, these men's actions are utterly abhorrent," he said.
"They waged a campaign of sexual violence and intimidation against young girls in the Rotherham area 13 years ago."They waged a campaign of sexual violence and intimidation against young girls in the Rotherham area 13 years ago.
"Sageer Hussain in particular took a leading role in befriending the young girls, and in the case of one victim, passed her on to his friends and other associates.""Sageer Hussain in particular took a leading role in befriending the young girls, and in the case of one victim, passed her on to his friends and other associates."
Ian Thomas, strategic director of Children and Young People's Services at Rotherham Council, said: "One of the families central to this case I know quite well.
"They have been to hell and back over the past 14 years.
"This family exemplify why we must redouble efforts across all our communities in tackling child sexual exploitation as a national threat."