Seven vulnerable teenage girls were sexually abused or attempted abuse by six men who “viewed them with disdain”, a court said.
The defendants were charged in Worcester Crown Court with charges of sex offenses against the young girls – some were only 13 years old – over a period of four years.
The alleged crimes are said to have occurred in locations in north Worcestershire, including parks, woods, alleys, an abandoned house and in cars, the jury said.
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Prosecutor Mark Heywood QC opened the case: “This case involves seven girls in their early to middle teens who were sexually abused by these defendants between March 2013 and March 2017.
“Some of these girls were simply and roughly groped with one hand on their tops or pants.
“Some of them were lonely and wanted attention so they were willing to go along with whatever that affirmation gave them.
“Others had made poor lifestyle choices that left them vulnerable and ready to risk themselves in ways that responsible adults might recognize immediately, and that they might recognize and regret for themselves if just a little more maturity.
Usmaan Asghar before Kidderminster Magistrates Court
“When they drank, used drugs, and were sexually available, they were easily exploited by those who, in reality, viewed them with contempt.
“One (alleged victim) faced such insistent demands for oral sex that she gave up simply because she realized that if she said no, she would achieve nothing.
“But when she resisted and insisted on resisting intercourse – saying ‘no’, saying that she didn’t want her first time to be like this – she was just grabbed and forced to obey.”
Mr Heywood described some of the alleged crimes and described how Numan Mohammed contacted one of the girls through her Facebook profile in her early teenage years.
The prosecutor added that the girl “was beginning to notice that the tone of the messages he was sending her was becoming increasingly inappropriate” and that he was “trying to play with her emotions and make her guilty of her own words to use”.
The Crown QC said Mohammed – known by the nicknames “Nomi” and “Nome” – would get “angry” if she refused his advances and that he once committed an indecent act during a Skype call.
The alleged victim later told police that she had “had a difficult time” in her life and felt that Mohammed was “the only person who really cared.”
General view of Worcester Crown Court
“I thought he really liked me,” the girl later told officers.
Mr. Heywood said, “This subject of manipulating emotions and manipulating uncertainty will come up over and over again in this case.”
On another occasion, the same girl was contacted by Arslan Tazarab on Facebook and allegedly had sex with him twice “out of guilt”.
“It was too far to walk home … she was scared of the dark and didn’t want Arslan Tazarab to be mad at her,” Heywood said.
Abdul Hussain
(Image: SWNS)
Mr. Heywood said the same girl was allegedly approached by Ehtasham Tazarab – whom she found “downright creepy” – and who “tried it on” with her once but was turned away.
Another girl claimed that after smoking cannabis with Mohammed, he forced her to engage in a sexual act and that he – on another occasion – attacked her in a locked room.
The same girl also claimed that she was exploited and attacked by Usmaan Asghar while under the influence of cannabis, and later told police, “I just felt loved – and I was lonely.”
Mr. Heywood, whose case continues Wednesday, said, “The prosecution says … it’s another clear example of the kind of insecurities that can be manipulated.”
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Mohammed, 23, formerly from Redditch, Worcestershire, is charged with a total of eight crimes.
He faces two charges of sexual activity in the presence of a child, three charges of sexual activity with a child, two charges of inciting a child to commit sexual acts, and one charge of rape.
Arslan Tazarab, 25, of The Mayfields, Redditch, is also charged with four allegations of sexual activity with a child.
Ehtasham Tazarab, 21, also from The Mayfields, is accused of attempting sexual activity with a child and has tried to communicate sexually with a child on four occasions.
Asghar, 22, of Sillins Avenue, Redditch, is accused of dual sexual activity with a child.
Alongside them in the dock, Usman Ali, 28, of Other Road, Redditch, is facing two charges of sexual activity with a child.
Abdul Shakoor Hussain, 22, of Mount Pleasant, Redditch, reportedly committed a sexual act in the presence of a girl and faces two sexual assault charges.
The men deny any wrongdoing and the trial, estimated at six weeks, will continue.
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