On 5 June 2024, Rotherham saw a further seven men convicted of sexual offences against children committed between 2003 and 2006.

The convicted men are Mohammed Amar, 42; Mohammed Siyab, 44; Yasser Ajaib, 39; Mohammed Zameer Sadiq, 49; Abid Saddiq, 43; Tahir Yassin, 38; and Ramin Bari, 37. They were found guilty of multiple charges of sexual abuse of the two child victims who were just 11 and 15 years old when the abuse began.

Sheffield Crown Court heard how the group of men plied the young girls with alcohol and drugs, before subjecting them to sexual assaults. The abuse occurred in various locations around Rotherham, including parks, car parks, a cemetery, and behind a children’s nursery. One incident saw a girl being taken to a hotel and raped by two men, and on another occasion, locked in an abuser’s home and raped multiple times before managing to escape through a window.

Zoe Becker from the Crown Prosecution Service praised the courage of the survivors, stating:

“These seven men knew that these young girls could be exploited—they targeted the victims and, using drugs and alcohol, groomed them for sex.” She emphasised the relentless violence and manipulation these girls faced, calling their abuse "traumatic" and "horrific."

NCA’s Senior Investigating Officer, Stuart Cobb, acknowledged the profound bravery of the victims in coming forward. Their testimonies were pivotal in securing these convictions.

Cobb remarked: “The evidence we heard from these victims was some of the most harrowing we have come across... What happened to them was appalling. Their attackers were cruel, manipulative men who thought it was fine to take advantage of vulnerable young girls and dehumanise their victims in the worst possible ways.”

The men will be sentenced on September 12 and 13, 2024. Abid Saddiq is already serving a 20-year prison sentence for previous sexual offences.

These convictions are part of Operation Stovewood, the National Crime Agency’s (NCA) large investigation into child sexual abuse, focusing on Rotherham between 1997 and 2013. To date, 33 individuals have been convicted under this operation, with more than 1,150 potential victims identified. The investigation highlights the scale of the problem and the fact that there are many victims that are yet to come forward.  Operation Stovewood is ongoing and further trials are scheduled to take place.

Contact our specialist abuse solicitors

At Switalskis we have represented dozens of women who were affected by the child sexual exploitation in Rotherham, and many more from other parts of the country where similar grooming, exploitation and abuse occurred.  We are acutely aware of the damage this kind of sexual abuse causes and the huge difficulty many have in coming forward and reporting their abuse.  We have been successful in securing damages for many survivors, to compensate them for the harm they suffered and to allow them get help they need. 

If you or someone you know has been affected would like a confidential discussion about you rights and your case, then please contact Sally Smith . You can email her at sally.smith@switalskis.com or by phone on 01924 882 000 . Sally will be happy to discuss your options with you.  It is not necessary to have reported the matter to the police to proceed with a civil law claim.