A man accused of being the ringleader of a group on trial for sexual offences against three girls has denied being responsible for the alleged 'rape and exploitation' of one of them. Tahir Rashid, 55, is accused of raping three girls in Rochdale and was questioned by prosecutors as he continued to give evidence at Minshull Street Crown Court.
Charges and Allegations
Mr Rashid; Mohammed Saleem, 47; Sucklane Shah, 47; Amjad Mahmood, 54; Iftaq Hussain, 46; and Arshad Mohammed, 56, deny all charges they face concerning three alleged victims, who cannot be named.
Prosecutors allege that Girl A and Girl B were exploited in the mid 2000s, while the alleged abuse of another, Girl C, began in the late 1980s. They were 'groomed', 'manipulated' and became 'sex slaves', often forced to have sex 'with multiple men on the same day, in filthy flats and houses'.
Court Proceedings
Mr Rashid was cross-examined by prosecutor Rossano Scamardella KC on Monday (November 9). The KC put it to the defendant: "[Girl A], [Girl B] and [Girl C] are telling the truth about how you had sex with them." "I've not had sex with them," he replied.
Mr Scamardella alleged: "What you have done is fit your case to the pieces of evidence you have seen." The defendant replied: "No I haven't, that's exactly the same as what you have done." Mr Rashid was asked about a police interview in 2019, in which he said he 'didn't associate with him [the defendant Mohammed Saleem]'.
Mr Scamardella said records showed that Mr Saleem had visited Mr Rashid twice in 2008 when he had previously been in prison. Mr Rashid told jurors: "I didn't remember it, but now thinking about it I remember him bringing my wife to visit me in 2008. After I came out of prison I never really associated with him." Mr Scamardella put it to Mr Rashid: "You and he and others were responsible for the rape and exploitation of [Girl A], weren't you?" "No I wasn't," Mr Rashid replied.
Details of Charges
Mr Rashid, of Hudsons Walk, Rochdale, denies 12 counts of rape; three counts of indecent assault; and one count of assault by penetration. The charges include allegations against all three complainants.
Mr Saleem, of Bradley Smithy Close, Rochdale, denies eight counts of rape allegedly committed against Girl A. Mr Shah, of Crawford Street, Rochdale, denies two counts of rape allegedly committed against Girl B. Mr Mohammed, of Merefield Street, Rochdale, denies four counts of rape and one count of assault by penetration, with allegations against Girl A and Girl B.
Mr Hussain, of Hey Street, Rochdale, denies three counts of rape allegedly committed against Girl A. Mr Mahmood, of Channing Street, Rochdale, denies 11 counts of rape, two counts of indecency with a child, two counts of assault by penetration and one count of indecent assault, with allegations against Girl A and Girl B. The trial continues.
