In the ongoing Rochdale sex abuse trial, an alleged victim identified as Girl B recounted her harrowing experiences, stating she would close her eyes and 'pray for it to be over'.

Girl B provided her allegations during video recorded interviews played to the jury. The trial centers around eight men accused of sexual offences against two girls between 2001 and 2006.

To protect their identities, the alleged victims are referred to as Girl A and Girl B. The Minshull Street Crown Court heard that most of the accused were taxi drivers or market stall traders in Rochdale.

It has been alleged that the girls were ‘passed around’ for sex and subsequently ‘discarded’. The accused, all of whom deny the charges, include Mohammed Zahid, 64; Kasir Bashir, 50; Mushtaq Ahmed, 66; Roheez Khan, 39; Mohammed Shahzad, 43; Nisar Hussain, 43; Naheem Akram, 48; and Arfan Khan, 40.

In her first police interview in 2021, Girl B named Mohammed Zahid, a market stall trader, describing him as “dead soft natured” and “not nasty”. She reflected that she thought he seemed caring, even as she recognized he was not.

Girl B also identified another accused, Kashir Bashir, describing him as “massive” and “aggressive”. Both men are charged with raping her.

Girl B revealed, “I would just close my eyes and pray for it to be over.” She described her experience: “I literally just lay there... I wouldn’t move, I wouldn’t say no.”

When questioned about the number of times she had sex with Bashir, Girl B stated, “I don’t know... I remember it would be hurting. But I just wanted it done with.”

She detailed two locations of alleged abuse, including a house in Oldham where she was provided alcohol. “There would be one or two people already in there... They wouldn’t tell me to go upstairs, but look at me like,” she explained.

She also described a shop in Rochdale with a basement where abuse took place, indicating it was “damp and mouldy” with a mattress on the floor where she awaited her abusers.

The trial has heard that the shop was allegedly run by Mushtaq Ahmed, who, along with Mohammed Zahid, is charged with raping Girl B.

Charges against the accused include:

• Mohammed Zahid, 64: 10 counts of rape; 4 counts of indecency with a child; 6 counts of procuring a girl under 21 to have unlawful sexual intercourse.
• Kasir Bashir, 50: 2 counts of rape; 2 counts of indecency with a child.
• Mushtaq Ahmed, 66: 4 counts of rape; 4 counts of indecency with a child; 1 count of procuring a girl under 21 to have unlawful sexual intercourse.
• Roheez Khan, 39: 1 count of rape.
• Mohammed Shahzad, 43: 8 counts of rape; 1 count each of conspiracy to commit indecency with a child, conspiracy to cause a child to engage in penetrative sexual activity, indecency with a child, indecent assault, and assault by penetration.
• Nisar Hussain, 43: 4 counts of rape; 1 count each of conspiracy to commit indecency with a child, conspiracy to cause a child to engage in penetrative sexual activity, indecent assault, and assault by penetration.
• Naheem Akram, 48: 11 counts of rape; 1 count each of conspiracy to commit indecency with a child, conspiracy to cause a child to engage in penetrative sexual activity, indecency with a child, indecent assault, and assault by penetration.
• Arfan Khan, 40: 2 counts of rape; 1 count each of conspiracy to commit indecency with a child and conspiracy to cause a child to engage in penetrative sexual activity.

The trial continues.