“Vile crimes committed by evil men”
Eighteen people have been convicted of abusing girls in Newcastle who were plied with alcohol and drugs before being forced to have sex.
The vulnerable victims, some as young as 14, were exploited by a “cynical organisation”, a court heard.
The 17 men and one woman were convicted of rape, supplying drugs and conspiracy to incite prostitution.
Over the course of four trials, 20 young women gave evidence covering a period from 2011 to 2014.
These trials involved 26 defendants facing a total of more than 100 charges and 22 victims.
Those prosecuted were from the Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Indian, Iraqi, Iranian and Turkish communities and mainly British-born, with most living in the West End of Newcastle.
Of the 26, three people have been jailed. The rest will be sentenced next month.
It also emerged during the court process that police paid a convicted child rapist £10,000 as an informant.
The victims were at first flattered by the attention of the men who apparently befriended them, but were then lured to parties, known as “sessions”, by the promise of alcohol and drugs – often mephedrone (or M-Kat), Newcastle Crown Court heard.
Bags of M-Kat were left on coffee tables for the girls to help themselves.
The parties took place at premises around the West End, including the top floor of tower block Todd’s Nook, where one teenager said she was raped three times.
The prosecution said they became the “vulnerable victims of an organised, cynical, systematic organisation in which they were passed between their abusers.”
Some spoke of being “too intoxicated” to defend themselves, while others became addicted and had to commit sexual acts in return for drugs.
One victim said she had attended about 60 parties and another told of going to an address where there were two older men and a woman, who seemed “frightened and scared, like a slave”.
She said: “They told us what she would do for them for money and drugs or she’d get battered.”
Another victim said: “I knew that if we wanted drugs or alcohol we would have to do something.
“[He] had us too intoxicated to fight him off. One time, [he] locked the door. I was told I would only be allowed out if I had sex.”
Northumbria Police set up Operation Sanctuary in December 2013 to investigate claims of sexual abuse against girls and young women. It’s been the biggest investigation into sexual exploitation by Northumbria Police.
The investigation is ongoing and to date has resulted in 461 arrests. Police have spoken to 703 potential complainants and 278 victims have been identified.
The victims were abused at addresses around the West End of Newcastle
Due to its size, the investigation was split into a number of spin-off operations.
Operation Shelter uncovered groups of men in the West End of Newcastle – many of whom were known to each other – who exploited vulnerable young women and girls over a period from 2010 to 2014.
This eventually led to four separate trials, the first commencing in September 2015 and the final one which has just concluded, allowing previous reporting restrictions to be lifted.
Council leader Nick Forbes said: “These were vile crimes committed by evil men.
“The victims … have been brave beyond belief and undoubtedly have made our city safer.”
Chief Constable Steve Ashman said: “We have not and will not stop.
“There has been no political correctness here. These are criminals and there has been no hesitation in arresting them and targeting them using all the means at our disposal.”
The 18 defendants and their convictions
Mohammed Azram, 35, convicted of conspiracy to incite prostitution, sexual assault, supplying drugs to a victim.
Jahanghir Zaman, 43, convicted of conspiracy to incite prostitution, rape, supplying drugs to a victim.
Nashir Uddin, 35, convicted of conspiracy to incite prostitution, supplying drugs to a victim.
Saiful Islam, 34, convicted of rape. Jailed for 10 years.
Mohammed Hassan Ali, 33, convicted of sexual activity with a child, supplying drugs to a victim. Jailed for seven years.
Yasser Hussain, 27, convicted of beating, possession of drugs. Jailed for two years.
Abdul Sabe, 40, convicted of conspiracy to incite prostitution, trafficking within the UK for sexual exploitation, drugs offences.
Habibur Rahim, 34, convicted of causing or inciting prostitution, drugs, sexual assault, trafficking within the UK for sexual exploitation.
Badrul Hussain, 37, convicted of drug offences.
Mohibur Rahman, 44, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to incite prostitution, supplying drugs to a victim.
Abdulhamid Minoyee, 33, convicted of rape, sexual assault, supply of drugs.
Carolann Gallon, 22, pleaded guilty to three counts of trafficking.
Monjour Choudhury, 33, convicted of conspiracy to incite prostitution, supplying drugs to a victim.
Prabhat Nelli, 33, convicted of conspiracy to incite prostitution, supplying drugs to a victim.
Eisa Mousavi, 41, convicted of conspiracy to incite prostitution, rape, supplying drugs to a victim.
Taherul Alam, 32, convicted of conspiracy to incite prostitution, supplying drugs to a victim, attempted sexual assault.
Nadeem Aslam, 43, convicted of supplying drugs to victims.
Redwan Siddquee, 32, pleaded guilty to causing or inciting prostitution, supply or offering to supply a class B drug.
