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Oxford exploitation trial: Guilty verdicts over child rapes Oxford exploitation trial: Guilty verdicts over child rapes
(35 minutes later)
Seven members of a sex grooming ring have been convicted of abusing children from Oxford.Seven members of a sex grooming ring have been convicted of abusing children from Oxford.
An Old Bailey jury heard six girls were drugged and suffered sadistic abuse while aged between 11 and 15.An Old Bailey jury heard six girls were drugged and suffered sadistic abuse while aged between 11 and 15.
The court heard victims were plied with alcohol and drugs before being forced to perform sex acts. Some had also been beaten, burned and threatened.The court heard victims were plied with alcohol and drugs before being forced to perform sex acts. Some had also been beaten, burned and threatened.
The men denied charges including rape, arranging child prostitution and trafficking between 2004 to 2012. Eight men had denied charges including rape, arranging child prostitution and trafficking between 2004 to 2012.
The abuse began in Oxford but some of the victims would be later taken around the country to be offered to other men who were in contact with the gang. The judge told the guilty men: "You have been convicted of the most serious offences and long custodial sentences are inevitable."
They are due to be sentenced on 26 June.
Brothers convictedBrothers convicted
The abuse began in Oxford but some of the victims would be later taken around the country to be offered to other men who were in contact with the gang.
The court heard how the men identified vulnerable girls for abuse then groomed each one of them until they were under the control of the gang.The court heard how the men identified vulnerable girls for abuse then groomed each one of them until they were under the control of the gang.
A number of opportunities to catch members of the gang are believed to have been missed and prosecutors, the police and social services have apologised for any failings.
Kamar Jamil, 27, and brothers Akhtar Dogar, 32, and Anjum Dogar, 31, and were convicted of rape, facilitating child prostitution and trafficking.Kamar Jamil, 27, and brothers Akhtar Dogar, 32, and Anjum Dogar, 31, and were convicted of rape, facilitating child prostitution and trafficking.
Assad Hussain, 32, was convicted of two counts of sexual activity with a child.Assad Hussain, 32, was convicted of two counts of sexual activity with a child.
Mohammed Karrar, 38, was found guilty of rape of a child under 13 and procuring abortion, conspiracy to rape, child prostitution and trafficking.Mohammed Karrar, 38, was found guilty of rape of a child under 13 and procuring abortion, conspiracy to rape, child prostitution and trafficking.
Mohammed Karrar's brother Bassam, 33, was found guilty of rape and conspiracy to rape girls under 13, child prostitution and trafficking.Mohammed Karrar's brother Bassam, 33, was found guilty of rape and conspiracy to rape girls under 13, child prostitution and trafficking.
Zeesham Ahmed, 27, was found guilty of sexual activity with a child. Zeeshan Ahmed, 27, was found guilty of sexual activity with a child.
Mohammed Hussain, 24, was found not guilty of sexual activity with a child.Mohammed Hussain, 24, was found not guilty of sexual activity with a child.
Following the verdicts there was a scuffle in the dock as Ahmed struck out at Mohammed Hussain when he was cleared of the charges against him.
Sold for sexSold for sex
The Old Bailey was told the key members of the group used and abused the six victims in a systematic and organised sex trafficking ring over eight years until their arrest in 2012.The Old Bailey was told the key members of the group used and abused the six victims in a systematic and organised sex trafficking ring over eight years until their arrest in 2012.
The abuse would always begin in Oxford but some of the victims would be taken around the country to be offered to other men who were in contact with the gang.The abuse would always begin in Oxford but some of the victims would be taken around the country to be offered to other men who were in contact with the gang.
The court heard how the men identified vulnerable girls for abuse and then groomed each one of them until they were under the control of the gang.The court heard how the men identified vulnerable girls for abuse and then groomed each one of them until they were under the control of the gang.
They were then each either abused by the men themselves, given to their friends or offered at a price to others who were not on trial.They were then each either abused by the men themselves, given to their friends or offered at a price to others who were not on trial.
The youngest girl to be targeted was 11 years old. The girls were mostly chosen because their unsettled or troubled lives made them easier to manipulate.The youngest girl to be targeted was 11 years old. The girls were mostly chosen because their unsettled or troubled lives made them easier to manipulate.
The Crown Prosecution Service said it would look again at its decision to take no further action over allegations involving the girls between 2005 and 2006.
Baljit Ubhey, chief crown prosecutor for Thames and Chiltern, said: "I think we could have been more proactive. Of four cases we looked at, in three of those it's arguable we might have been able to do more.
"I think what these cases have highlighted is that they're probably not isolated incidents and there's probably more of this activity going on."
'Deep regret'
One of victims had complained to police twice but no one was charged.
A care home manager, who was later sacked, refused to pay her taxi fare when she returned after running away and the 14-year-old was driven back to Oxford where she was raped.
The court heard girls, who had been placed in care by Oxfordshire County Council for their own protection, would frequently abscond and were caught with older men by police.
Council chief executive Joanna Simons said: "We are incredibly sorry we were not able to stop it any sooner.
"We were up against a gang of devious criminals. The girls thought they were their friends."
Det Ch Supt Rob Mason said: "Thames Valley Police and Oxfordshire County Council social services deeply regret that this activity wasn't identified sooner and that we were too reliant on victims supporting criminal proceedings and that they suffered a terrible ordeal."