ROCHDALE BEASTS GET 174YRS—NOW FOR THE REST OF THEM

A market trader from Rochdale has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for the grooming and rape of two schoolgirls. Mohammed Zahid, aged 65 and known locally as "Boss Man", exploited his position at Rochdale Indoor Market to target vulnerable teenagers. Operating a lingerie stall, Zahid lured the girls with gifts of free underwear, money, alcohol, and food, creating expectations of regular sexual encounters with him and his associates.

The crimes, which took place between 2001 and 2006, were uncovered following a trial at Manchester Minshull Street Court in June. Zahid, a father of three, was one of seven men convicted of a range of sexual offences against the two girls. Collectively, the group was sentenced to a total of 174 years in prison, reflecting the severity of their actions. The court heard harrowing accounts of how the victims, both aged 13 at the time, were treated as "sex slaves" amid deeply troubled home lives. Prosecutors described how the girls were plied with drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, and places to stay, only to be coerced into sexual acts "whenever and wherever" the perpetrators demanded, in locations including filthy flats, rancid mattresses, cars, car parks, alleyways, and disused warehouses.

One of the victims, referred to as Girl A, revealed to the jury that she may have been targeted by over 200 offenders, as her phone number was widely circulated among abusers in the town. She stated, "there was that many it was hard to keep count". Girl B, who was living in a local children’s home at the time, recounted being preyed upon by Zahid and fellow market traders Mushtaq Ahmed, aged 67, and Kasir Bashir, aged 50. All three men were born in Pakistan. Girl B testified that she believed various agencies were aware of the abuse, as police frequently picked her up after social workers labelled her a "prostitute" from the age of 10. Zahid’s audacity was evident in his brazen visits to the care home to collect and drop off Girl B, behaving as though he was "almost untouchable", according to the court.

Zahid was found guilty of multiple counts of rape against both Girl A and Girl B, who were unknown to each other, as well as charges of indecency with a child and procuring a child for sex. This was not his first conviction; in 2016, Zahid was jailed for five years for engaging in sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl in 2005 and 2006. The teenager, described as "extremely vulnerable", had visited his stall to buy tights for school when he began grooming her after contacting her "out of the blue".

The other men convicted alongside Zahid included Mushtaq Ahmed of Corona Avenue, Oldham, and Kasir Bashir of Napier Street East, Oldham, both found guilty of multiple counts of rape and indecency with a child in relation to Girl B. Mohammed Shahzad, aged 44, of Beswicke Royds Street, Rochdale; Naheem Akram, aged 48, of Manley Road, Rochdale; and Nisar Hussain, aged 41, of New Field Close, Rochdale, were convicted of multiple counts of rape against Girl A. Roheez Khan, aged 39, of Athole Street, Rochdale, was found guilty of a single count of rape against Girl A.

**Who Are the Convicted Men?**

- Mohammed Zahid, 64, stall holder in Rochdale Market  

- Mushtaq Ahmed, 67, stall holder in Rochdale Market  

- Kasir Bashir, 50, stall holder in Rochdale Market  

- Mohammed Shahzad, 44, taxi driver  

- Naheem Akram, 48, taxi driver  

- Nisar Hussain, 41, taxi driver  

- Roheez Khan, 39  

The convictions mark a significant step in addressing the horrific exploitation of vulnerable young girls in Rochdale, shining a light on the predatory actions of these men and the devastating impact on their victims. Greater Manchester Police provided images of the convicted individuals, underscoring the importance of bringing such offenders to justice. 

Now for the rest of them, and those members of political parties and public services who helped these vile criminals cover up their crimes. This isn't the end, it's just the beginning of the effort to track down all those responsible and hold them to account.