3 guilty of sexually exploiting children

THREE men have been convicted of being involved in child sexual exploitation in Oldham after a trial lasting four weeks.

Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court heard that two vulnerable under-age girls were plied with alcohol and drugs to get them to indulge in sex. The girls — one 13 at the time, and the other 15 — had difficult and troubled home lives which led to their being in  care at the time.

Both were said to have behaved in a way that was often risky and irresponsible — frequently absconding, despite the efforts of care staff to protect them. A trial jury heard that they liked to seek the company of adult men, including the three on trial: Hassan Ali (20), of no fixed address, Bilal Ahmed (27), formerly of Tentercroft, Coldhurst, and Dilon Rasul (23), of Worsley Street, Glodwick.

All three were found guilty of playing a role in what went on. Ali was found guilty of abducting a 13-year-old boy who was a friend of the two girls, and also in care. His motive it was said, was sexual interest in the girls.

The jury of eight men and four women failed to reach agreement on verdicts regarding his alleged abduction of the two girls involved in the case.

The Crown Prosecution Service was due to announce today whether it intended to pursue the two remaining charges against him.

Ahmed was found guilty on two counts of sexual activity with a child.

Rasul was found guilty of a single count if facilitating the commission of child sex offences involving the two girls.

The jury had been told that on three occasions within days of each other in September last year, the girls — and on the first occasion the 13 year old boy — had gone missing from their respective care homes in Oldham, staying out overnight.

On at least one occasion they were missing, the court was told they were at a terrace house in Worsley Street, Glodwick, where the girls later claimed they had often gone after absconding.

The girls described being involved in snogging sessions at the address on the first occasion, and the younger said she had been involved in sexual activity with Ahmed at the house.

Rasul who lived at the address at the time was said to have agreed to their staying there and provided alcohol for them.

All three men denied the allegations against them, and Ahmed said there had been no sexual activity.

All three men will be sentenced at a later date at Crown Court.