Latest news with #KasirBashir
Daily Mail
13 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Rochdale grooming gang paedophile who groomed young girls to use as 'sex slaves' feared to have fled the UK
A Rochdale grooming gang paedophile who turned young girls into 'sex slaves' to be used and abused 'wherever, whenever' is feared to have fled the UK. Kasir Bashir was one of seven men convicted of sexually exploiting two teenage girls in the town between 2001 and 2005. The warped 50-year-old was part of a depraved gang of predators who preyed on vulnerable children from the age of 13 who had 'deeply troubled home lives'. Former Rochdale market stall holder Bashir repeatedly raped and abused one teenager at a filthy flat in Oldham when he was in his mid-20s, a court heard. The group would ply the youngsters with booze and drugs before molesting them on rancid mattresses or inside alleyways, cars, warehouses and car parks. His sickening crimes were exposed following a major police operation to clampdown on the grooming gangs plaguing Rochdale. However, on the eve of his criminal trial in January, the pervert vanished - despite having answered police bail weekly in the run up to his court appearance. In his absence, the abuser was convicted by a jury of two counts of rape, as well as two counts of indecency with a child. However, he is still on the run. Now it is feared Bashir may have fled the country, with Greater Manchester Police (GMP) launching an international manhunt to bring the sex fiend to justice. It's understood the convicted paedophile was forced to surrender his passport as part of his bail conditions before his trial at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court. If he has fled overseas, it's feared he may have done so illegally, either using forged documents or a people smuggling gang. Paul Waugh, the MP for Rochdale, has now lashed out and is demanding urgent answers over how Bashir could have slipped through the authorities' grasp. Speaking to Manchester Evening News, the Labour MP said: 'It is deeply alarming that this disgusting grooming gang member absconded on the eve of his trial. 'I have written to both the Ministry of Justice and GMP to ask exactly why a suspected child rapist like Bashir was not considered more of a flight risk or more of a danger to society. 'There are serious questions to answer about the assessment of his suitability for bail and why he was not remanded in custody. The fact that he is at large will rightly anger many of my constituents.' He added: 'Ultimately, this is a matter for the crown court judge in this case. But I have asked the justice minister to check whether there can be a review of the bail decision by the Attorney General, given the natural public interest this involves. 'Just as importantly, I want to make sure no future grooming gang trial will see a repeat of this outrage, and that all those charged with such serious offences are remanded in custody.' A spokesman for GMP said: 'We don't know where Bashir is, but we are determined to find him no matter where he thinks he can hide.' Detective Chief Inspector Guy Laycock, senior investigation officer in the case, added: 'We will do all we can to find Bashir and ensure justice is fully served for them. 'Time was no barrier to bringing these groomers to justice, and Bashir evading the trial, will not stop us ensuring he now faces the full consequences of his actions.' Three of Bashir's co-defendants - Mohammed Shahzad, Naheem Akram, and Nisar Hussain – were also out on bail when he went missing. However, police remanded the them in custody after reportedly receiving intelligence they were planning to abscond. The trio all deny the accusations, but Judge Jonathan Seely said the court was not prepared to take the risk that they may abscond. Those with information about Bashir's whereabouts are urged to contact GMP, on 101, quoting Operation Lytton.
The Sun
17 hours ago
- The Sun
International manhunt for Rochdale grooming gang member, 50, who used girl as ‘sex slave' from 13 ‘before fleeing UK'
A VILE member of a grooming gang who "repeatedly raped" and "exploited" a vulnerable young girl is on the run and may have fled the UK. Kasir Bashir, 50, was a one of the seven men found guilty of sexually exploiting two white teenage girls in Rochdale between 2001 and 2006. 8 8 8 Bashir, who has been on the run from police for six months, may have fled Britain. He was a member of the Rochdale grooming gang who preyed on young girls with "deeply troubled home lives" and groomed them as "sex slaves" from the age of 13. The vile man worked as a market stall holder in Rochdale and was convicted alongside six others of the sexual exploitation of two girls in the town. In January, just before his trial, in a cowardly attempt to evade justice, Bashir fled. This prompted an urgent international manhunt for the fiend. He was found guilty last month alongside six others after the trial went ahead in his absence. The men, aged between 67 and 41, plied young girls with drugs, cigarettes and alcohol and expected them to have sex "whenever and wherever" the defendants wanted. The young girls were reportedly abused in filthy flats, on rancid mattresses, in cars, car parks, alleyways and disused warehouses. The court heard how vile Bashir repeatedly raped and abused a teenager in a dark, dingy flat in Oldham. Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court was told the fiend was in his mid 20s when he exploited the young, vulnerable girl. Grooming gangs wrecked my daughter's life - and it's still going on now. Proceedings were derailed a week after Bashir fled when a member of the jury asked about the fiend's absence, which his defence argued showed prejudice. The trial was later restarted and went ahead with Bashir and six others found guilty of the heinous crimes. Following the trial Greater Manchester Police announced a manhunt for the vile man with it emerging that he may have fled Britain. The Manchester Evening News reported that, as part of his bail conditions, Bashir surrendered his passport which means if he left Britain he did so by illegitimate means. 8 8 8 If the vile man left the country through illegitimate means it will make it much harder for authorities to track him down. Bashir has been on a police " critical wanted" list since January but has still not been located. Reports suggest he had been complying with strict bail conditions up to the Thursday before his trial. These included surrendering his passport, living and sleeping at a given address and attending the Rochdale Police Station once a week. Three other members of the grooming gang, Mohammed Shahzad, Naheem Akram and Nisar Hussain were also out on bail when Bashir went missing. Police received intelligence that the trio were planning to leave the country and they were remanded in custody ahead of the trial. Bashir was convicted in absentia of multiple counts of rape and indecency with a child. The manhunt for the vile fiend continues as authorities desperately try to track him down and bring him to justice. Paul Waugh, the MP for Rochdale, said: "It is deeply alarming that this disgusting grooming gang member absconded on the eve of his trial. 'I have written to both the Ministry of Justice and GMP to ask exactly why a suspected child rapist like Bashir was not considered more of a flight risk or more of a danger to society. 'There are serious questions to answer about the assessment of his suitability for bail and why he was not remanded in custody. "The fact that he is at large will rightly anger many of my constituents.' Detective Chief Inspector Guy Laycock is the senior investigation officer on the case, he said: 'The men who committed this horrific abuse have now been found guilty of their abhorrent crimes. One defendant, Kasir Bashir cowardly avoided the whole trial and thought he could escape justice. 'This is in stark contrast to the survivors who gave brave and painful testimony over the four-month trial in front of the men that so badly abused them. We will do all we can to find Bashir and ensure justice is fully served for them. 'Time was no barrier to bringing these groomers to justice, and Bashir evading the trial, will not stop us ensuring he now faces the full consequences of his actions.' 8 8
Telegraph
a day ago
- Telegraph
Rochdale grooming gang rapist ‘may have fled UK'
A Rochdale grooming gang member who has been on the run from police for six months may have fled Britain. Kasir Bashir, 50, was one of seven men convicted of the sexual exploitation of two white teenage girls in the town between 2001 and 2006. He was part of a gang who preyed on the vulnerabilities of young girls with 'deeply troubled home lives' to groom them as 'sex slaves' from the age of 13. Bashir, who worked as a market stall holder in Rochdale, repeatedly raped and abused a teenager at a dark, dinghy flat in Oldham. He was in his mid-20s when he exploited the young and vulnerable girl. The men – aged 67 to 41 – plied the girls with drugs, alcohol and cigarettes before expecting them to have sex 'whenever and wherever' the defendants and other men wanted, in filthy flats, on rancid mattresses, in cars, car parks, alleyways and disused warehouses. On the eve of the trial in January, he disappeared. One week later, proceedings at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court were derailed when a jury member asked questions about his absence that his defence argued showed prejudice. Bashir, from Oldham, was found guilty last month, alongside six other men, after the trial was restarted in his absence. After the trial, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) announced that an international manhunt was underway and on Sunday it emerged that Bashir may have fled Britain, although this is not certain. Bashir surrendered his passport as part of bail conditions set by a crown court judge before the trial, the Manchester Evening News reported. If Bashir, who has been on a police 'critical wanted' list since January, has left Britain he will have done so by illegitimate means, making him harder to track down. Paul Waugh, the MP for Rochdale, asked how Bashir was able to abscond and why he was not considered more of a flight risk. It is reported that he had been complying with his bail conditions – which included living and sleeping at a given address, surrendering his passport and attending Rochdale Police Station once a week – up to, and including, the Thursday before his trial. Co-defendants remanded in custody Three of Bashir's co-defendants – Mohammed Shahzad, Naheem Akram, and Nisar Hussain – were also out on bail when he went missing. Police received intelligence that the trio were planning to leave the country and they were remanded in custody ahead of the trial. They all denied the allegation, but Judge Jonathan Seely said the court was not prepared to take the risk that they might abscond. Bashir, of Napier Street East, Oldham, was convicted in absentia of multiple counts of rape and indecency with a child, referred to in press reports as Child B. Six other men from Greater Manchester were found guilty of a series of offences. Mr Waugh said: 'It is deeply alarming that this disgusting grooming gang member absconded on the eve of his trial. 'I have written to both the Ministry of Justice [MoJ] and GMP to ask exactly why a suspected child rapist like Bashir was not considered more of a flight risk or more of a danger to society. 'There are serious questions to answer about the assessment of his suitability for bail and why he was not remanded in custody. The fact that he is at large will rightly anger many of my constituents.' He added: 'Ultimately, this is a matter for the crown court judge in this case. But I have asked the justice minister to check whether there can be a review of the bail decision by the Attorney General, given the natural public interest this involves. 'Just as importantly, I want to make sure no future grooming gang trial will see a repeat of this outrage, and that all those charged with such serious offences are remanded in custody.' The MoJ and the Attorney General's office were approached by the Manchester Evening News but declined to comment.
Daily Mail
13-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Hunt for fugitive Rochale grooming gang member who was found guilty of raping and abusing teenage girl as police warn him 'you can run but you can't hide'
One of the seven men convicted of exploiting two young girls as 'sex slaves' has gone on the run, police have revealed. The gang preyed on the vulnerabilities of the victims to groom them from the age of 13 over a five-year-long campaign of abuse between 2001 and 2006. Kasir Bashir, 50, was absent throughout his trial - despite answering bail on a weekly basis since being charged in 2023. In his absence, the abuser was convicted by a jury of two counts of rape, as well as two counts of indecency with a child. He is being actively sought by GMP, the force confirmed, and is officially a wanted man. It comes as three members of the gang were locked up partway through their trial following 'intelligence' that they planned to flee to Pakistan. Police said they are determined to find Bashir 'no matter where he thinks he can hide'. Anyone with information about Bashir's whereabouts have been urged to contact police or Crimestoppers, anonymously. Detective Chief Inspector Guy Laycock, the senior investigation officer on the case, said: 'The men who committed this horrific abuse have now been found guilty of their abhorrent crimes. One defendant, Kasir Bashir cowardly avoided the whole trial and thought he could escape justice. 'This is in stark contrast to the survivors who gave brave and painful testimony over the four-month trial in front of the men that so badly abused them. We will do all we can to find Bashir and ensure justice is fully served for them. 'Time was no barrier to bringing these groomers to justice, and Bashir evading the trial, will not stop us ensuring he now faces the full consequences of his actions.' Both female victims of the gang had 'deeply troubled home lives' and were given drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, places to stay and people to be with, Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard. They were expected to have sex 'whenever and wherever' the defendants and other men wanted in filthy flats, on rancid mattresses, in cars, car parks, alleyways and disused warehouses. Jurors deliberated for three weeks before delivering their unanimous guilty verdicts today. Rochdale is now not synonymous with the great achievements of the Industrial Revolution but with what has become known as Asian grooming gangs, the men's trial heard The gang's convictions in full Mohammed Zahid was convicted of ten counts of rape; four counts of indecency with a child; five counts of procuring a girl under 21 to have unlawful sexual intercourse; and one count of attempt to procure a girl under 21 to have unlawful sexual intercourse. Kasir Bashir was convicted of two counts of rape; and two counts of indecency with a child. Mushtaq Ahmed was convicted of four counts of rape; four counts of indecency with a child; and one count of procuring a girl under 21 to have unlawful sexual intercourse. Roheez Khan was convicted of one count of rape. Mohammed Shahzad was convicted of five counts of rape; and one count of assault by penetration. Nisar Hussain was convicted of two counts of rape; and one count of assault by penetration. Naheem Akram was convicted of six counts of rape; and one count of assault by penetration Three of the abusers, Mohammed Zahid, 64, Mushtaq Ahmed, 67, and Bashir - all born in Pakistan - were stallholders on Rochdale's indoor market. The gang's depraved ringleader Zahid was even known as 'Knickerman' because of his underwear stall at the centuries-old trading hub. The pot-bellied, wispy-haired father-of-three exploited his products' appeal to young girls to lure in vulnerable youngsters who were then subjected to 'years of misery'. In 2016, Zahid was jailed for five years in an earlier grooming gang case after he engaged in sexual activity in 2006 with a 15-year-old girl who he met when she visited his stall to buy tights for school. Bashir did not attend the current trial as jurors were ordered not to speculate why but it can be revealed that he absconded while on bail before the trial got under way. It can also be reported that co-defendants Mohammed Shahzad, 44, Naheem Akram, 48, and Nisar Hussain, 41, were remanded in custody with their bail revoked in January before the jury was sworn in. A seventh defendant, Pakistani-born Roheez Khan, 39, also featured in another previous Rochdale grooming trial in 2013 when he was one of five men convicted of sexually exploiting a 'profoundly vulnerable' 15-year-old girl in 2008 and 2009. Khan was jailed for six-and-a-half years for engaging in sexual activity with a child and witness intimidation. Starting when they were aged just 13, two terrified girls were 'passed around' for sex between fellow traders and taxi drivers – all from Rochdale's Pakistani community - between 2001 and 2006. They would then be callously 'discarded', jurors in a ten-week trial heard. Following a string of successful prosecutions which made the Greater Manchester town grimly synonymous with the scourge of grooming gangs, the victims – now in their 30s – decided to come forward to seek justice over their ordeals.
The Independent
13-06-2025
- The Independent
Seven men face ‘lengthy' sentences for sexual abuse of teenage girls in Rochdale
Seven members of an Asian grooming gang are facing 'lengthy' prison sentences after they were convicted of the sexual exploitation of two white teenage schoolgirls in Rochdale. Social services and police apologised for their past failings surrounding the victims who were abused in the town between 2001 and 2006 after a jury returned unanimous verdicts on Friday against the defendants. Both girls were treated as 'sex slaves' from the age of 13, said prosecutors, amid 'deeply troubled home lives' as they were given drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, places to stay and people to be with. Soon after, they were expected to have sex 'whenever and wherever' the defendants and other men wanted, in filthy flats, on rancid mattresses, in cars, car parks, alleyways and disused warehouses. Girl A told the jury at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court that she could have been targeted by more than 200 offenders as her phone number was swapped but said 'there was that many it was hard to keep count'. She told local children's services in 2004 that she was 'hanging around' with groups of older men, drinking and taking cannabis, the court heard. Giving evidence, Girl B said she was living in a local children's home when she was preyed on by market traders Mohammed Zahid, 64; Mushtaq Ahmed, 67; and Kasir Bashir, 50 – all born in Pakistan – who were stallholders on the town's indoor market. She said she presumed various agencies knew what was going on as police regularly picked her up after social workers labelled her a 'prostitute'. Girl B told the hearing she had since read her file held by Rochdale social services which, she said, stated she had been selling herself for sex from the age of 10. Following the verdicts, Sharon Hubber, Rochdale Borough Council's director of children's services, said: 'We know that these convictions are unlikely to erase the memories of the abuse these women were subjected to as children, but we hope they do bring some form of closure. 'We know that more could and should have been done by the people who were working here at the time, and for that we are truly sorry.' Detective Superintendent Alan Clitherow, of Greater Manchester Police, said: 'There was information at the time that police and other agencies could, and should, have done something with and we didn't. 'The way those victims were dealt with at the time is indefensible and inexcusable. 'We have made comprehensive apologies for that. We're not perfect but we are very much improving now on how we manage these investigations.' Assistant Chief Constable Steph Parker added: 'I know that our past failings have meant there are people who doubt the police's commitment today to putting grooming gangs behind bars where they belong. 'Let me be clear – time is no barrier to justice, and we are actively working with dozens of survivors on numerous investigations to ensure no offender gets away with this. When you are ready, we will listen. 'Our dedicated, child sexual exploitation, major investigations team has almost 100 investigators working every day to listen to victims and to bring cases to court.' Father-of-three Zahid – known as Boss Man – gave free underwear from his lingerie stall to both complainants and also money, alcohol and food in return for the expectation of regular sex with him and his friends. In 2016, Zahid was jailed for five years in an earlier grooming gang case after he engaged in sexual activity in 2006 with a 15-year-old girl whom he met when she visited his stall to buy tights for school. Bashir did not attend the current trial as jurors were ordered not to speculate why but it can be revealed that he absconded while on bail before the trial got under way. Police are actively seeking Bashir and say they are 'determined to find him no matter where he thinks he can hide'. It can also be reported that co-defendants Mohammed Shahzad, 44; Naheem Akram, 48; and Nisar Hussain, 41; were remanded in custody with their bail revoked in January before the jury was sworn in. Police received intelligence that the three Rochdale-born taxi drivers were planning to leave the UK and had already paid a deposit for their transport, the court heard. All three denied the accusation but Judge Jonathan Seely said the court was not prepared to take a risk that they, too, would abscond. A seventh defendant, Pakistani-born Roheez Khan, 39, also featured in another previous Rochdale grooming trial in 2013 when he was one of five men convicted of sexually exploiting a 'profoundly vulnerable' 15-year-old girl in 2008 and 2009. Khan was jailed for six and a half years for engaging in sexual activity with a child and witness intimidation. After three weeks of deliberations by the jury, Zahid, of, Station Road, Crumpsall, was convicted of raping Girl A and Girl B, who did not know each other, on multiple occasions. Jurors also found him guilty of offences of indecency with a child and procuring a child to have sex. Ahmed, of Corona Avenue, Oldham; and Bashir, of Napier Street East, Oldham; were convicted of multiple counts of rape and indecency with a child, in relation to Girl B. Shahzad, of Beswicke Royds Street, Rochdale; Akram, of Manley Road, Rochdale; and Hussain, of New Field Close, Rochdale; were convicted of multiple counts of rape against Girl A. Roheez Khan, of Athole Street, Rochdale, was found guilty of a single count of rape against Girl A. Judge Seely told the men they all faced 'lengthy' prison sentences as he remanded them in custody ahead of sentencing on a date to be fixed. All the perpetrators were prosecuted as part of Operation Lytton, an ongoing investigation since 2015 by Greater Manchester Police into historical child sexual exploitation in Rochdale. A total of 37 individuals have been charged so far, with five more trials scheduled to take place from September onwards.
