‘Girl thought it was normal to have had sex with at least 30 men by age of 13’

By Kim Pilling, Reporter3rd March 2025News EnglandChild Abuse, Courts / Justice, News England, Rotherham, Sexual Abuse

An alleged teenage “sex slave” of a group of Asian men in Rochdale said she thought it was “normal” to have had sex with at least 30 men by the age of 13, a jury has heard.

The complainant was regularly visiting a sexual health clinic at the time but failed to tell staff about the abuse she says she suffered, Manchester Minshull Crown Court (pictured) was told.

Eight men are on trial accused of committing various sexual offences including rape and indecent assaults against two girls from the age of 13 between 2001 and 2006.

The defendants are alleged to have preyed upon the vulnerabilities of the teenagers by plying them with alcohol, drugs and cigarettes before they were expected to have sex with them and others whenever and wherever they wanted.

One of the accused, 64-year-old Mohammed Zahid, known then as Bossman, is alleged to have given free underwear from his lingerie stall on Rochdale market to both complainants, and then money, alcohol and food in return for sex.

On Monday, cross-examination of one of the alleged victims, Girl A, began from Lisa Wilding KC, representing Zahid, who denies sexually abusing her from the age of 14.

Miss Wilding asked: “At this time you say you were being sexually abused by a large number of people, did you ever tell anyone in that clinic anything about that or ask for advice?”

“No,” replied Girl A.

Miss Wilding said: “Why?”

Girl A said: “I thought that it was a normal thing. I didn’t know it was abuse at that time.”

Miss Wilding said: “If you thought it was normal, why were you lying to the nurses about your real sex life?”

Girl A said: “Because they were older and I was under 16. I thought they would get into trouble. I thought they were friends and I didn’t want to get friends into trouble.”

The cross-examination will continue on Tuesday.

Zahid, 64, of Station Road, Crumpsall, Manchester, denies all the charges against him, along with the other defendants – Naheem Akram, 48, of Manley, Road, Rochdale; Mohammed Shazad, 43, of Beswicke Royds Street, Rochdale; Nisar Hussain, 43, of Newfield Close, Rochdale; Roheez Khan, 39, of Athole Street, Rochdale; Arfan Khan, 40, of Grouse Street, Rochdale; Mushtaq Ahmed, 66, of Corona Avenue, Oldham; and Kasir Bashir, 50, of Napier Street East, Oldham.