A GANG of 12 British men have been jailed for a total of 140 years for the repeated rape and sexual abuse of a vulnerable schoolgirl they saw as “utterly worthlessâ€.
Eleven were jailed for rape and a 12th man was jailed for sexual activity with a child under 16.
Their victim was aged 13 and 14 when she was repeatedly raped and sexually abused and passed around by the men.
In one sustained attack she was raped by five of them in succession.
Some of the abuse took place in an underground car park where there was graffiti with the victim’s name and the word “cornerâ€.
Bradford Crown Court heard how the men were led by ringleader Ahmed Al-Choudhury who facilitated most of the offences but then fled abroad.
Judge Roger Thomas QC condemned the “insolent and disrespectful behaviour†the accused showed in court which he said reflected their treatment of their victim.
He told them: “The attitudes of the majority of you have so clearly demonstrated to these proceedings has been contemptuous, disrespectful and arrogant on a scale that I have hardly seen before in many years of practice in criminal law.
“Exactly the same attitude to the 13 or 14 year old girl who you all sexually abused and exploited for your own selfish gratification.
“None of these defendants had any concern for the victim.
“They were totally uninterested in her welfare and what damage they were causing her.
“The victim clearly demanded pity and understanding but their view of her was heartless and demeaning.
“They saw her as a pathetic figure who had no worth and who served no purpose than to be an object that they could sexually misuse and cast aside.
“They showed her no shred of decency or humanity when as a vulnerable child she so needed care and understanding.â€
The court heard their victim now has post-traumatic stress disorder and clinical depression.
In a statement, she told the court: “My perception of what a normal relationship is warped. Trust issues affect every aspect of my life.
“I have also had many physical effects. I was physically assaulted and punched and kicked and these hurt when I am tired.
“My moods are very variable and can be up and down at any time. I have no coping mechanisms and feel out of control.
“The court process has been very difficult. My anxiety and stress levels have been increased. I have struggled to remain in control of my emotions and life in general.â€
The court heard how the majority of defendants had a host of previous convictions ranging from drugs, dangerous driving, assault, public disorder, stealing and handling stolen goods.
Khalid Raja Mahmood has a “significant record†and is currently serving six and a half years for the rape of a 43-year-old woman and a consecutive one and a half years for attempting false imprisonment of a child.
Other convictions include seven sexual offences, three offences of indecent assault and two for curb crawling.
Mahmood, 34, pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and three counts of sexual activity with a child.
He was twice the victim’s age when he met her and had plied her with alcohol.
The judge told him: “Having met the victim you set about grooming her for sex. You drank alcohol and you offered the victim drink and drugs.
“You were then able to carry out your sexual offending against her, she being in that extremely vulnerable state.â€
This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission.