The crimes of “Asian grooming gangs” in Rochdale were not relevant to the cases of seven men on trial accused of historical child sexual exploitation in the town, jurors have been told.
The defendants have denied various sexual offences alleged to have been committed against two teenage girls between 2001 and 2006.
Lisa Wilding KC, representing Mohammed Zahid – one of the accused – told the jury at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court that they must approach the case “with a surgeon’s precision”.
She said: “You must decide this case against each defendant on the evidence you have heard in this courtroom – not on anything outside, not on anything that has gone on before.”
In her closing speech, she said: “You have been told by the prosecution of the unhappy fate of Rochdale and that its name is now not synonymous with the great achievements of the Industrial Revolution but with the widespread publicity that has arisen from the prosecution of men, of what has become known as Asian grooming gangs.
“It is a fact that others have been convicted of criminal activity, more widely arising from criminal activity in Rochdale.”
Other men had also been convicted of crimes against one of the two complainants, Girl A, she said in her closing speech.
Ms Wilding said: “But it’s very important you must approach this case with a surgeon’s precision. The fact that other men have committed crimes is not relevant to your determination as to whether these men have committed crimes.
“You must decide this case against each defendant on the evidence you have heard in this courtroom – not on anything outside, not on anything that has gone on before.”
The barrister told jurors they “may easily conclude” Girl A and Girl B were “vulnerable young girls” who had told them from the witness box they had been abused by others – “many others” in the case of Girl A and earlier when she was “really young” in the case of Girl B.
Ms Wilding said: “It is not enough that [Girl A] and [Girl B] were vulnerable young women. That alone does not make any defendant guilty.”
Former market trader Mr Zahid, 64, of Station Road, Crumpsall, Manchester, is alleged to have raped both girls.
Ms Wilding said he denied any sexual activity with either of the complainants.
He denied ever meeting Girl B, or knowingly doing so, and denied everything she alleged – whether it was sex in the basement of a clothing shop, in a flat, in a house or elsewhere.
Ms Wilding said Mr Zahid accepted he knew Girl A, but said sexual activity did not take place between them.
The other defendants on trial are Naheem Akram, 48, of Manley, Road, Rochdale; Mohammed Shahzad, 44, of Beswicke Royds Street, Rochdale; Nisar Hussain, 41, of Newfield Close, Rochdale; Roheez Khan, 39, of Athole Street, Rochdale; Mushtaq Ahmed, 67, of Corona Avenue, Oldham; and Kasir Bashir, 50, of Napier Street East, Oldham.
Earlier, prosecutor Rossano Scamardella KC told the jury the testimony of the complainants was “compelling”.
He said: “They are telling the truth, and in telling the truth they had to have courage to come to court and give evidence, which they did for days on end.
“Their bravery shown giving evidence puts their abusers to shame.
“Both had their lives destroyed by these men and others like them.”
Mr Scamardella said the abuse had taken place “under the noses of social workers and others who should have done far more to protect them”.
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