Three Men Convicted of Child Sex Abuse in Rotherham
Three men have been found guilty of abusing two young girls in Rotherham over a decade ago. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) secured convictions against Romauld Houphouet, 37, Absolom Sigiyo, 41, and Jacek Brzozowski, 35, following a National Crime Agency (NCA) probe under Operation Stovewood.
Operation Stovewood: Uncovering a Decade of Abuse
Operation Stovewood is a major investigation into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, covering abuse between 1997 and 2013. The three men committed their offences against two 15-year-old girls living in a local authority children’s home during 2011 and 2012.
The victims were befriended by the accused, who gained their trust by offering alcohol and cigarettes. The girls were then subjected to repeated sexual abuse.
Intimidation Attempts and Jury Verdict
In 2019, as the abuse investigation unfolded, Absolom Sigiyo even tried to intimidate one victim in Rotherham town centre, pressuring her to drop her police complaint.
The jury was presented with overwhelming evidence and found all three men guilty.
Justice Served but Trauma Remains
Martin McRobb, Specialist Prosecutor for CPS, said: “These men preyed on vulnerable young girls, grooming them with alcohol and gifts to exploit them repeatedly. The victims are now adults but carry the scars of these vile crimes. Their bravery in coming forward is commendable. The CPS will keep working with law enforcement to bring justice to all victims of child sexual abuse.”
Kath Blain, NCA Senior Investigating Officer, added: “This is one of the most harrowing cases I have seen. Sigiyo and Houphouet lured the girls to parties, getting them intoxicated to abuse them. Brzozowski also contributed by having sex with a vulnerable child. The victims’ courage to report this abuse is extraordinary. While the trauma can never be erased, today’s guilty verdicts show that justice has been served. We urge any child abuse survivors to report their experience to the police.”
