Rotherham Rapists Jailed After 25 Years
Two predators who terrorised a vulnerable teenage girl in Rotherham have finally been locked up—over 25 years after their horrific attacks. Kessur Ajaib, 44, and Mohammed Makhmood, 43, were sentenced to a combined 15-and-a-half years today following a National Crime Agency (NCA) probe.
Twisted Abuse Spanning Years
Between 1999 and 2001, when they were just 18 to 20 years old, the pair targeted a girl aged around 14. Ajaib lured her with chat and booze before dragging her into an alleyway to rape her. Makhmood struck later, spotting her alone at a bus stop, inviting her for a cigarette, then forcing himself on her in a graveyard.
Harsh Sentences and Lifetime Punishments
- Ajaib was jailed for eight years and six months for rape, plus three years for indecent assault (served concurrently).
- Makhmood received a seven-year sentence for his attack.
- Both men are now on the sex offender register for life.
Justice at Last After Years of Silence
The breakthrough came thanks to Operation Stovewood, the NCA’s long-running investigation into historic sexual abuse in Rotherham, launched in 2014. Officers pieced together the victim’s identity and evidence, leading to arrests in early 2024 and convictions at Sheffield Crown Court on 23 July 2025.
“The victim bravely came forward after many years, allowing justice to be served,” said an NCA spokesperson.
This case shines a harsh spotlight on the ongoing battle to expose past abuses and the crucial role of specialist officers in bringing paedos to justice.
