by TOM SHARPE from The Rotherham Advertiser
A JUDGE has comdemned an eight-month delay in bringing charges against an alleged sex ring accused of attacks on girls as young as 13 as “absoluttely scandalous.”
He said it was a “lamentable failure” on the part of the Crown Prosecution Service, who had waited since March to bring the men to court following their arrest.
Members of the alleged eight strong sex ring were arrested in March in a series of early morning raids after being linked to a year-long series of sexual offences, committed around Rotherham, involving three 13-year-old girls and one adult.
But they were later released on police bail and had not been brought to court until their appearance at Rotherham Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
District Judge John Foster strongly criticised the eight month delay in bringing the men—charged with a total of 16 rapes—to court.
Addressing CPS prosecutor Mark Hughes, Mr Foster said: “The complainants are 13 and 14 years of age and you are telling me that it’s acceptable to conduct an eight month Crown Prosecution review of the case before bringing these men to court? I can’t believe it.
“These are children who are going to have to give evidence about these allegations.
“They face the prospect of being cross-examined, assuming not guilty pleas are entered by one or more of the defendants. Someone has to explain this to me, it’s absolutely scandalous.”
“They face the prospect of being cross-examined, assuming not guilty pleas are entered by one or more of the defendants. Someone has to explain this to me, it’s absolutely scandalous.”
The accused men are:
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Adil Hussain (20), of Nelson Street, Rotherham, charged with the rape of a 13-year-old girl.
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Saeed Hussain (28), of Hatherley Road, Eastwood, Rotherham, charged with inciting a 13-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity.
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Shaizaad Hussain (21), of Clough Road, Masbrough, Rotherham, charged with two counts of rape against a 13-year-old girl.
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Mohsin Khan (21), of Haworth Crescent, Moorgate, Rotherham, charged with five counts of rape including four against a 13-year-old girl.
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Zafran Ramzan (21), of Broom Grove, Broom, Rotherham, charged with four counts of rape, including one involving a 13-year-old girl.
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Razwan Razaq (29), of Oxford Street, Clifton, Rotherham, charged with two counts of rape against a 13-year-old girl.
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Umar Razaq (23), of Oxford Street, Clifton, Rotherham, charged with rape of a girl aged over 16 and engaging in sexual activity with 13-year-old girl.
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Shazad Akbar (22), of Shirecliffe Lane, Shirecliffe, Sheffield, charged with rape.
The men lined up in the dock at Rotherham Magistrates’ Court to face the raft of charges on Wednesday after answering bail at the town’s Main Street police station on Tuesday.
Many of them had answered bail more than seven times since their arrests in March.
All eight applied for bail at Wednesday’s hearing as solicitors argued that all had completed regular visits to Main Street police station as their bail conditions required.
But Mr Foster denied all eight their liberty by detaining them in custody prior to an appearance at Sheffield Crown Court on Wednesday, citing charges which could attract life sentences in some cases as a reason why they may not submit to bail in future.
Mr Foster added: “This has been a lamentable performance by the CPS in the delay which has been occasioned by their complete failure, it seems, to take any positive action in relation to this case since March this year.”
The judge is not really functioning well. Cases like this should act instantly for the good of the victims. I hope justice will prevail in that case.