Overview

• Seven men are on trial at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court, accused of sexually exploiting two teenage girls in Rochdale between 2001 and 2006.
• Prosecutors described the alleged victims, known as Girl A and Girl B, as credible and brave, asserting their testimony remained unshaken during cross-examination.
• Defense lawyers argued that the jury must disregard broader associations with 'Asian grooming gangs' in Rochdale and decide based solely on the evidence presented in court.
• The defendants, who include former taxi drivers and market traders, deny all allegations, with one defendant, Mohammed Zahid, denying ever meeting one of the complainants.
• The trial, which began in January 2025, has entered its final phase, with jurors now tasked with deliberating on the evidence and reaching verdicts.