Rotherham Rapist Receives 20-Year Sentence for Heinous Crimes
A man described as a 'monster' by his victims has been jailed for two decades after raping a 13-year-old girl who was 'passed on from one man to another' in Rotherham. Riyasth Hussain, a 45-year-old father of three, committed these horrific acts between 2004 and 2008, exploiting the vulnerability of his young target.
Victim's Heartbreaking Testimony in Court
Now in her 30s, the woman confronted Hussain directly from the witness box at Sheffield Crown Court, stating, 'You didn't just steal my childhood, you stole the rest of my life.' She first encountered Hussain when he offered to help her during a street altercation with another man in Rotherham, an event that occurred between 2004 and 2006 when Hussain was approximately 24 years old.
On a separate occasion, Hussain stopped his car next to the girl on the street, and she got in. He then drove her to an industrial estate, forcibly pulled her out of the vehicle, and raped her. He repeated this atrocity by raping her a second time in his car after driving to a remote field.
Additional Conviction for Raping Another Woman
Hussain was also sentenced for the rape of another woman in 2008, who was in her 20s at the time. This victim had been staying at a friend's home when an unknown man entered her room and assaulted her. She managed to recall details about the perpetrator's appearance and car, which enabled officers to identify Hussain.
He received an eight-year prison sentence for this offence, to run concurrently with consecutive eight- and twelve-year terms for raping the younger victim, resulting in a total of 20 years behind bars.
Emotional Impact Statements from Survivors
The younger victim described how Hussain would rape her 'at any opportunity' and then 'chuck me away like I was nothing.' Addressing him in court, she said, 'When you met me I was just a fragile, vulnerable little girl who you could easily abuse. Today I'm a woman and my only goal is justice. Today I got justice. I'm happy to take you down at last.'
The other woman expressed her enduring pain, stating, 'I cannot ever forgive this monster for what he's done to me.' In her victim impact statement, she added, 'I will hate him to the day I die. He has completely ruined my life.' She detailed how her 'thoughts freeze whenever I think of his name' and that she feels constantly distracted by the 'living nightmare' of the assault.
Judge's Remarks and Operation Stovewood Connection
Judge Sarah Wright, during sentencing, praised the women's courage and noted that the younger victim was 'passed on from one man to another' to such an extent that 'she believed this sort of behaviour was normal and you exploited that.' She emphasized that 'their lives are ruined forever' and that 'the harm you have caused cannot and never will be repaired.'
Hussain has become the 50th person convicted under Operation Stovewood, the National Crime Agency's largest-ever investigation into child sexual abuse, which examined cases in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013. Officers contacted the younger victim after identifying her as a potential survivor, and she reported being raped by a man known as 'Riaz,' later identified as Riyasth Hussain.
Official Statements and Support for Victims
NCA Senior Investigating Officer Alan Hastings commended the survivors for 'described with humbling eloquence and dignity the great suffering that they have experienced every day since Riyasth Hussain raped them.' He urged other victims to come forward, assuring them of available support services and specially trained officers.
Liz Fell of the Crown Prosecution Service stated that Hussain 'preyed on two extremely vulnerable victims' and 'exploited them for his own sexual gratification.' She highlighted that the younger victim was 'living in the care system and had been groomed and sexually exploited by many other men when Hussain targeted her.'
Sexual violence can be reported to police by calling 101, with resources in place to assist survivors in seeking justice and healing.
