Six men deny sexually abusing same girl

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jun/23/six-men-deny-sexually-abusing-same-girl

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Six men have denied historical sex offences against the same teenage girl in West Yorkshire.

They were among seven men who appeared at Leeds crown court on Tuesday. A total of 25 defendants have been charged and the others will appear at the court on Wednesday for two further plea and case management hearings.

The defendants have been split into different groups, with four separate trials to be heard next year. The first, in February, will involve Aftab Hussain, Fasil Mahmood and Akbar Hussain, all from Halifax. A court order prevents publication of the defendants’ full addresses.

Aftab Hussain, 36, pleaded not guilty to meeting a child following sexual grooming, sexual assault on the girl between 20 July 2008 and 11 June 2011 and two offences of sexual activity with a child between 1 January and 21 July 2011.

Mahmood, 36, denied sexual activity with a child between 20 July 2009 and 21 July 2010 when she was 14 and supplying her with cannabis.

Akbar Hussain, 29, denied sexual activity with a child between 20 July 2010 and 21 July 2011 when she was 15 and supplying her with cannabis.

Four other defendants who appeared on Tuesday are due to be tried later. Aesan Pervez, 26, of Halifax, pleaded not guilty to sexual assault on 5 August 2009 and to a sexual assault on 31 October 2009.

Sikander Ishaq, 31, from Halifax, denied one charge of sexual activity with a child between 20 July 2009 and 21 July 2011.

Furqaan Ghafar, 30, from Derby, denied sexual activity with a child between 22 February 2011 and 6 April 2011. No charges were put to Mansoor Akhtar, 24, from Halifax, and his case was adjourned. The defendants were granted conditional bail until the next hearing in August.

The English Defence League had protested at two previous appearances of the defendants at Calderdale magistrates court and the crown court but no protests were seen on Tuesday.