A man from Rotherham has been found guilty of raping and indecently assaulting a teenage girl as part of the National Crime Agency’s (NCA) Operation Stovewood. Mohammed Imran Ali Akhtar, 42, formerly of Godstone Road, was identified during the investigation into child sex abuse offences committed in the town between 1997 and 2013.
At Sheffield Crown Court on 17 October, Akhtar pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and two counts of indecent assault. The offences occurred between 2001 and 2003 and involved a victim as young as 13 years old. Akhtar is set to be sentenced at the same court on 18 December.
He remains in custody as he has already been found guilty of rape and indecent assault in a separate trial in 2018, for which he received a 23-year jail term. Operation Stovewood’s Senior Investigating Officer, Philip Marshall, commended the bravery of the victim for coming forward and sharing her story, which was crucial in securing this conviction.
While supporting victims remains a priority, the NCA is determined to identify and bring offenders to justice. Operation Stovewood is the largest law enforcement investigation into non-familial child sexual abuse in the UK. The NCA officers are investigating allegations of abuse in Rotherham spanning over 16 years.
To date, more than 200 individuals have been arrested, and 24 convictions have been secured, resulting in jail sentences totaling over 250 years for those found guilty. The NCA continues to work in collaboration with all services in South Yorkshire to ensure the safety and well-being of victims and to hold offenders accountable for their actions.
