Three brothers who led a Rotherham child sexual exploitation gang have been jailed for a total of 79 years. Arshid Hussain, 40, was sentenced to 35 years for 23 offences committed between 1987 and 2003, while his brothers Basharat, 39, and Bannaras, 36, received 25 and 19 years respectively.
The sentences were handed down at Sheffield Crown Court, where judge Sarah Wright described the harm caused as 'unimaginable'. The gang targeted, brutalised and sexually abused 15 young girls over 16 years, with victims sitting silently in court, some wiping away tears as the judge addressed the defendants.
Judge Wright praised the 'immeasurable courage' of the victims, particularly a woman known as 'Jessica', whose exposure of the abuse three years ago helped bring the case to light. She noted that one victim now undresses only in the dark, while others suffer from eating disorders, depression and an inability to form stable relationships.
Also sentenced were the brothers' uncle, Qurban Ali, 53, who received 10 years, and Karen MacGregor, 59, who lured girls to her home and was jailed for 13 years. Shelley Davies, 40, received an 18-month suspended sentence after her barrister argued she too was a victim, having been trafficked as a 15-year-old.
Detective Chief Inspector Martin Tate, who led the investigation, said the sentences were 'huge' and that one victim never thought she would see this day. Judge Wright acknowledged past failures by police and social services, saying victims had been too afraid to speak up, felt shame, or feared being blamed.
