Grinning Rochdale cafe proprietor, 56, who groomed and raped underage ladies together with a 13-year-old with teams of males is jailed for 28 years
A grinning Rochdale café owner who groomed and raped underage girls, including a 13-year-old who was sexually assaulted by a group of men, has been jailed.
Shameless Ajaz Ahmed, 56, used his café and home as bases to inflict ‘horrific’ abuse against underaged girls in his hometown.
The ‘callous and prolific’ child sex beast would ply his victims with alcohol and used offers of jobs and accommodation in a twisted bid to exert control over them.
One of his victims was just 13 when Ahmed targeted her – before she was gang raped by a group of paedophiles at a party at his flat in Drake Street.
Another of his victims was only 15 when Ahmed raped her in front of a gang of men, who sickeningly laughed during the schoolgirl’s nightmare ordeal.
They were two of five people abused by the 56-year-old – who has now been jailed for 28 years after being convicted of 23 offences, including rape and sexual assault.
Ahmed was exposed following a probe by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) into historic sexual abuse in Rochdale.
During his arrest, the bearded predator appeared to smirk as his custody picture was taken by officers.
Ajaz Ahmed, 56, used his café and home as bases to inflict ‘horrific’ abuse against underaged girls in his home town.
GMP said it was the coming forward of a brave survivor which ‘opened up the entire case’ and helped detectives uncover the full extent Ahmed’s abhorrent crimes.
The girl told officers in the mid-2010s she had been raped by several men at a party at a flat in the town. She was under 16 at the time. She was driven around by officers and pinpointed a house in Drake Street as the location of the attack.
Ahmed was identified as the owner of the building. Following that revelation, another girl said she had been beaten, raped and sexually assaulted on ‘multiple occasions’ during a ‘coercive and controlling relationship’.
Ahmed is said to have lied about his age, and claimed to be 27. The abuse spanned several years, GMP said.
A friend of the first victim said she was sexually assaulted the first time she met him, just before her 16th birthday
A third woman came forward, telling police she met Ahmed at his café. He offered somewhere to live in exchange for work.
After a few weeks, he sexually assaulted her in the kitchen. Ahmed took her to nightclubs and, one occasion, raped her in the basement of the Drake Street property.
He also threatened to kick her out and make her homeless if she tried to stop him, a court heard.
Another victim, who was 15, was offered a room at the Drake Street house by Ahmed, who she knew as ‘AJ’. One night he let himself in and raped her in front of a group of laughing men. He then began to regularly rape her.
The attacks took place as Ahmed’s cafe and in his flat in Drake Street (pictured)
A fifth victim who was 17 said she was offered a place to stay by Ahmed in return for sexual favours. When she declined, he sexually assaulted her.
Ahmed was found guilty of 10 counts of rape; seven counts of penetrative sexual activity with a child; assaulting causing actual bodily-harm; non-penetrative sexual activity with a child; two counts of assault by penetration; indecent image of a child; and possession of extreme pornography following a trial at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court in December.
He was yesterday sentenced at the same court where a judge imposed a 28-year prison sentence.
In a statement issued following the hearing, Detective Constable Ann Cooper Poole, from GMP, said: ‘It took just one brave survivor to come forward, speak to our officers and detail her abuse, and it opened up an entire case which resulted in us obtaining evidence that Ahmed was a callous and prolific sex offender.
‘These girls had their childhoods and teen years tainted in the most abhorrent way, and they experienced what no one should ever experience.
‘I want to commend their bravery for coming forward and speaking to us. They played a vital role in reaching today’s outcome; ensuring justice is reached and that this man is put behind bars, unable to cause any further harm to the community.
‘Regardless of the time passed since you were affected by crimes of this nature, please come forward and report it to us.
‘We are here to listen to victims and give them a voice when they are ready, and you will be supported by specialist partner agencies throughout the investigation and beyond, to give you the support you need to rebuild your lives.
‘I hope this case will give other survivors of sexual abuse the confidence to come forward. It is never too late to seek justice.’
