Girl, 14, Sexually Exploited At Drugs Den In Lancashire, Jury Hears

Gang Sexually Exploited Teen Girl In Lancashire Drug Den
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A 14-year-old girl was sexually exploited at a drugs den by a gang of men who treated her with "indignity and contempt", a jury has heard.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was taken to the house in Brierfield, Lancashire, and allegedly passed around for their sexual gratification.

The "principal defendant", Mohammed Imran Amjad, 25, bore the "greatest responsibility for the corruption and abuse of the victim in this case", say the Crown Prosecution Service.

He befriended the white girl when she was 12 or 13 and frequently took her for drives in his cars, it is alleged.

Prosecutor Alaric Bassano told Burnley Crown Court: "It was him who took her on many occasions to the house and him who assisted, encouraged and incited others to rape and sexually assault this girl. On one occasion he raped the girl himself. Over a period of time he subdued her will and coerced her into submission."

He said three other men raped her and one man subjected her to a sexual assault.

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BNP protesters outside Burnley Crown Court on Monday

The alleged victim was about 12, the prosecutor said, when her general behaviour deteriorated. She could be aggressive, disobedient towards her mother, refusing to go to school and staying out late at night, he added.

The girl told police that her mobile telephone number was given to Imran Amjad, known to her as "Immy", by another, and he called to ask to meet up.

She first met up with him when she was aged 13 and was driven around the streets of Burnley in his car every few days, she said. Her mother became concerned she spent so much time in his company and confronted him.

Mr Bassano said the defendant's response typified his "arrogance", which he said would emerge in the trial.

He said: "When she told him about her age, and when she advanced her accusation that he was involved in an inappropriate relationship with her, he simply shrugged his shoulders and walked away.

"It is to be noted that he did not deny the allegation."

Her mother contacted the police in December 2009 to report her concerns about her daughter's welfare at the hands of "Immy", he said.

Mr Bassano said the girl made no complaint at the time and continued to mix with Immy who, undeterred, went on to commit the numerous offences against her in 2010.

Imran Amjad, of Halifax Road, Brierfield, denies abducting a child, rape, engaging in sexual activity with a child, aiding and abetting rape, and witness intimidation. He is also accused of intentionally encouraging or assisting the rape of the girl by a man known as "Saj".

Haroon Mahmood, 22, of John Street, Brierfield, denies rape and engaging in sexual activity with a child.

Mohammed Zishan Amjad, 24, of Halifax Road, Brierfield, also denies rape and engaging in sexual activity with a child.

Mohammed Suleman Farooq, 22, of Berry Street, Brierfield, denies sexual assault, engaging in sexual activity with a child and witness intimidation.

Shiraz Afzal, 25, of Mansfield Crescent, Brierfield, and Omar Mazafar, 21, of Halifax Road, Brierfield, both deny aiding and abetting rape.

All the sexual offences are said to have been committed between April and October 2010.

In summary, Mr Bassano said: "This case concerns the sexual exploitation and abuse of a 14-year-old girl. A number of men were involved in this abuse which involved planning and, on occasions, offenders acting together.

"The girl was groomed over a period of time and on many occasions she was taken to a house in Brierfield. That house was used as a den at which young men attended and brought or invited girls and young women in order to drink alcohol, take drugs and engage in sex. It was to this house that the girl was taken and at this house where she was sexually assaulted and raped by several adult males.

"During these times the girl was being passed between the men to be used for their own sexual gratification. The Crown contends that this girl was treated with indignity and contempt by them. All six defendants were involved, to a greater or lesser extent, in this sexual abuse."

In February last year, the girl was pregnant when she was interviewed by the police, the jury heard.

She identified the defendants and said she was taken to the house in Sackville Street. She referred to a Facebook account which one or other of the males had created with photographs of her and accompanying messages such as "free blowjobs" and "she sucks as well".

Mr Bassano said she did not refer to any sexual offences committed against her, with one small exception, and said nothing had happened to her at the house.

It was in subsequent interviews between June and October last year that she disclosed the full details, the prosecutor said. He said that the girl did not consent to any acts of intercourse.

Following one alleged rape, Immy drove her home and told her in no uncertain terms that she would do whatever he told her to do. On another occasion he warned her that if she reported him to the police he would make her family suffer.

The defendant Farooq is said to have threatened to shoot her if she continued to talk to the police.

The prosecutor said the man known as "Saj" who was said to have raped her was not in the dock as he had not been identified to the high standard needed in criminal proceedings.

A number of mobile phones were seized as part of the police investigation and the contents of certain text messages emerged.

Mr Bassano said: "What the Crown say these text messages demonstrate is that Immy had considerable contact with the girl and he often spoke to her in sexually degrading terms.

"There were organised events in relation to drinking, drug taking and the procurement of females for sex and this included reference to the girl and to the Sackville Street house. There are even some references to raping females."

The prosecutor said two questions would be asked of the girl when she was examined as a witness: why did she return to the house after the first occasion of abuse, and why did she not report these offences sooner?

Mr Bassano said the teenager was "in the grips of Immy" and her failure to disclose everything in her first police interview was "entirely consistent with what we know about how some people respond to such abuse".

A number of protesters affililated to the British National Party (BNP) and the English Defence League (EDL) protested outside the court yesterday.

Judge Beverley Lunt told the jury to disregard anything they saw or heard outside the courtroom and to approach the case with an open mind.

The trial, scheduled to last up to six weeks, continues tomorrow.