A former Rotherham taxi driver has been found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting two young girls more than two decades ago. Sheffield Crown Court heard that he repeatedly assaulted one victim, threatening to leave her stranded if she did not comply with his demands.
Formerly known as Razwan Razaq, Ali was convicted of four counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault following a trial. The offences took place between 1997 and 2013, and he was prosecuted as part of Operation Stovewood, the National Crime Agency's investigation into non-familial child sexual abuse and exploitation in Rotherham.
Liz Fell, from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), praised the victims for coming forward. She said: 'It is because of their evidence that we were able to secure a conviction and bring their abuser to justice. I hope this conviction sends a clear message that the CPS, working alongside law enforcement, will relentlessly pursue justice and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, whenever that abuse takes place.'
Ali had previously been sentenced to 11 years in prison in 2010 for similar offences. The court heard that he used his position as a taxi driver to target vulnerable children, offering free fares in exchange for sexual acts.
