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| Rotherham grooming gang sentenced to combined 103 years in prison for rape and sex abuse of girls | Rotherham grooming gang sentenced to combined 103 years in prison for rape and sex abuse of girls |
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| A gang who groomed, raped, prostituted and abused teenage girls in Rotherham have been handed combined prison sentences of more than 100 years. | A gang who groomed, raped, prostituted and abused teenage girls in Rotherham have been handed combined prison sentences of more than 100 years. |
| The ringleader, Arshid Hussain, was jailed at Sheffield Crown Court alongside three other men and two women for their role in a ring of offenders in the Yorkshire town. | The ringleader, Arshid Hussain, was jailed at Sheffield Crown Court alongside three other men and two women for their role in a ring of offenders in the Yorkshire town. |
| Arshid was imprisoned for 35 years, while his brothers Basharat Hussain, 39, and Bannaras Hussain, 36, were handed 25 years and 19 years respectively. | Arshid was imprisoned for 35 years, while his brothers Basharat Hussain, 39, and Bannaras Hussain, 36, were handed 25 years and 19 years respectively. |
| Their uncle Qurban Ali, 53, was jailed for 10 years. Karen MacGregor, a 58-year-old accomplice, was given 13 years while Shelley Davis, 40, will serve an 18-month suspended sentence. | Their uncle Qurban Ali, 53, was jailed for 10 years. Karen MacGregor, a 58-year-old accomplice, was given 13 years while Shelley Davis, 40, will serve an 18-month suspended sentence. |
| Pakistani-born members of the gang could face action to strip them of their UK citizenship, The Independent has revealed. | Pakistani-born members of the gang could face action to strip them of their UK citizenship, The Independent has revealed. |
| Legal proceedings seeking their potential deportation to Pakistan were expected to follow the hearing as the Home Secretary increases the use of legal powers usually implemented in terror cases. | |
| As Judge Sarah Wright handed down their sentences on Friday, she paid tribute to the “immense courage” of the women who came forward. | As Judge Sarah Wright handed down their sentences on Friday, she paid tribute to the “immense courage” of the women who came forward. |
| “The harm you have caused is of unimaginable proportions,” she told the defendants. | “The harm you have caused is of unimaginable proportions,” she told the defendants. |
| Many of the victims sat in the public gallery overlooking the packed courtroom for the sentencing. | Many of the victims sat in the public gallery overlooking the packed courtroom for the sentencing. |
| Twelve women - most now in their 30s - had told the jury they were sexually, physically and emotionally abused in the Rotherham when they were in their early teens. | Twelve women - most now in their 30s - had told the jury they were sexually, physically and emotionally abused in the Rotherham when they were in their early teens. |
| Five members of the gang sat in the dock for the hearing but Arshid appeared by video-link from Doncaster Prison. | Five members of the gang sat in the dock for the hearing but Arshid appeared by video-link from Doncaster Prison. |
| The court heard that the Hussain brothers “ruled Rotherham” with their drugs and guns operation and abused the girls with impunity. | The court heard that the Hussain brothers “ruled Rotherham” with their drugs and guns operation and abused the girls with impunity. |
| Arshid, 40, had been planning fertility treatment with his wife as he raped girls and lured them into prostitution. | Arshid, 40, had been planning fertility treatment with his wife as he raped girls and lured them into prostitution. |
| His defence team failed to convince the judge that he was unfit to stand trial due to alleged disability stemming from a gunshot wound he sustained in 2005. | His defence team failed to convince the judge that he was unfit to stand trial due to alleged disability stemming from a gunshot wound he sustained in 2005. |
| The jury was told that Arshid fathered children with his victims and forced some girls to have abortions. | The jury was told that Arshid fathered children with his victims and forced some girls to have abortions. |
| He, Basharat, Ali, MacGregor and Davis were found guilty earlier this week after a long trial but, as Bannaras had pleaded guilty, the case against him was opened by Michelle Colborne QC. | He, Basharat, Ali, MacGregor and Davis were found guilty earlier this week after a long trial but, as Bannaras had pleaded guilty, the case against him was opened by Michelle Colborne QC. |
| Speaking for the prosecution, she told the court that Bannaras abused one victim in a car park next to Rotherham Police Station. | Speaking for the prosecution, she told the court that Bannaras abused one victim in a car park next to Rotherham Police Station. |
| "(The girl) performed oral sex on Bannaras Hussain,” Ms Colborne said. | "(The girl) performed oral sex on Bannaras Hussain,” Ms Colborne said. |
| "When, shortly afterwards, a police car pulled up alongside them and asked what was going on, Bannaras Hussain shouted 'she's just sucking my cock, mate'.The police car drove off." | "When, shortly afterwards, a police car pulled up alongside them and asked what was going on, Bannaras Hussain shouted 'she's just sucking my cock, mate'.The police car drove off." |
| Ms Colborne said the sister of one victim described her sister as a "broken human being" and another girl described the Hussain brothers like "a pack of animals", claiming they urinated on her. | Ms Colborne said the sister of one victim described her sister as a "broken human being" and another girl described the Hussain brothers like "a pack of animals", claiming they urinated on her. |
| The lawyer listed eating disorders, self-harm, agoraphobia, self-loathing and abortions as among the lasting impact of the abuse, which left them feeling “dirty, ashamed and guilty”. | The lawyer listed eating disorders, self-harm, agoraphobia, self-loathing and abortions as among the lasting impact of the abuse, which left them feeling “dirty, ashamed and guilty”. |
| Many of the victims have had relationship problems throughout their lives and have found themselves subjected to domestic violence, she said. | Many of the victims have had relationship problems throughout their lives and have found themselves subjected to domestic violence, she said. |
| Additional reporting by PA | Additional reporting by PA |