Historic Sex Abuse Trial Rumbles On in Rochdale
Arshad Mohammed, 55, stands accused of raping two girls dating back two decades. He insists he’s been wrongly identified. The case is part of a sprawling trial involving six men charged with historic sexual offences in Rochdale.
Prosecutors claim the defendants subjected three victims to “the most humiliating and degrading way imaginable.” But all six men, including Mohammed, vehemently deny the charges.
The Defendants and Their Denials
- Tahir Rashid, 54, denies 12 counts of rape, three counts of indecent assault, and one count of assault by penetration.
- Mohammed Saleem, 46, denies eight counts of rape.
- Sucklane Shah, 46, denies two counts of rape.
- Amjad Mahmood, 53, denies four counts of rape and one count of assault by penetration.
- Itfaq Hussain, 45, denies three counts of rape.
- Arshad Mohammed, 55, denies two counts of rape.
Victims Kept Anonymous in Court
For legal reasons, the alleged victims are known only as Girl A, Girl B, and Girl C. Girl B’s claims refer to abuse in the late 1980s and early 1990s, while allegations from Girl A and Girl C relate to the mid-2000s.
Defence Challenges Victim’s ID
During intense courtroom cross-examination, Bob Sastry, Arshad Mohammed’s barrister, suggested to Girl A that she had been mistaken during a video identity parade. The trial continues as prosecution and defence clash over the evidence.
