"I am your Karma" Survivors Message To Seven Men Jailed for 106 Years for Rotherham Child Sex Abuse

Jason King
Sep 18, 2024
8 min read

Hi and welcome to this JK B'HAM Crime Report for VPN: REGIONAL NETWORKS:

"I am your Karma": this is how an abuse survivor addressed the seven men in court who are now beginning prison sentences totallling 106 years for the sexual abuse and exploitation of two girls in Rotherham between 2003 and 2008.

They were investigated as part of the NCA's Operation Stovewood investigation into Rotherham abuse gangs 1997-2013, and with this investigation the total number of convictions approaches 40.

The men were convicted in June of a range of offences including rape, sexual assault, trafficking, and sexual intercourse with a child.

The sentencing, delivered by HHJ Michael Slater at Sheffield Crown Court, marks another grim chapter in the ongoing revelations of child sexual exploitation in the South Yorkshire town.

The abuse surviors had the opportunity to put into their own words what this moment meant to them, with one of directly addressing the rank of rapists and abusers delivering her victim impact statement in person in court.

“For years I’ve suffered and still do [...] In the coming years I hope you feel as lonely, frightened and isolated as I have felt. You violated and humiliated me when I was a vulnerable child, now it's your turn to feel as I did."

At trial, the court heard how two girls, both who spent time in care, were deliberately targeted by the gangs due to their vulnerability.

From a victim impact statement spoken in court: “When the abuse first started, at 11, I wanted to be friends and to be accepted. I followed a crowd and would copy what they were doing.”

The 'cruel and manipulative' groomers went on to subject them to systematic and repeated abuse, often of the worst kind imaginable. Threats and violence, alcohol and cannabis were the tools of the trade of these men, who would often collect the girls directly from the care home. The ordeals they were subjected to included being locked inside one of the offender's homes.

A survivor adressed all the men awaiting their sentencing recounting how she had been forcced to perform sex acts while still a primary school pupil, and that this had made her feel disgusted. The abuse esxalated and, raped at age 12, she told the court had never felt pain like that before. She spoke of at least 150 abuse perpetrators by the age of 16.

She describes the loneliness and fear as, when she dissented, the men would "threaten to leave me miles from home". "You would even become violent when I refused.

But this was a layered abuse, with the men employing "brainwashing" and victim blaming sometimes preventing the girls from gaining a full understanding of their situation.

The survivors spoke of the wider failings, of all those who should have been protecting them but failed to do so, and the desperate efforts of parents to get help to defend their children from these fearsome gangs.

In legal terms, regarding the crimes committed, the court heard that four men had abused one girl, two men had abused the second girl and one man had abused both.

The longest sentence was saved for Mohammed Siyab, 49, reflecting his role in facilitating the vile abuse of the the girls by other men, driving victims to abusers around the country.

He received a 25-year sentence for multiple rapes, sexual intercourse with a child under 13, and trafficking a child to be abused. Siyab, described by Judge Slater as a “persistent and cruel sexual offender,” received his sentence through an Urdu interpreter. As he was led from the dock to begin his sentence, Siyab waved to his family, and a daughter said "I love you dad" as a parting message.

Abid Saddiq, 43, had abused both victims in this case, including multiple counts of rape. He was sentenced to 24 years. Saddiq had previously been jailed in 2019 for other sexual offences, with the judge referring to him as a “cunning and determined sexual predator.”

Among the others sentenced were Mohammed Amar, 42, who was convicted of two counts of indecent assault and sentenced to 16 years in prison, with an additional two years on extended license.

Yasser Ajaib, 39, was handed a six-year sentence with a further 12 months on license for one count of indecent assault.

Mohammed Zameer Sadiq, 49, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for one count of rape and sexual intercourse with a girl under 13.

Tahir Yasin, 38, was convicted of eight counts of rape and sentenced to 13 years imprisonment.

Ramin Bari, 37, was sentenced to nine years imprisonment for four counts of rape committed in a hotel.

The victims, who were subjected to years of abuse, were present in the courtroom, seated in the jury box.

One survivor bravely faced her abusers, delivering a powerful victim impact statement. She described being groomed and violently being forced into sadistic sexual acts, her childhood, and even her very identity taken away from her by the dehumanising ordeal.

They had provided moving testimony during the trial, recounting how they were plied with alcohol and drugs before being subjected to violent sexual abuse in various locations, including supermarket car parks, cemeteries, and behind a nursery.

This was a five year investigatin and, with the men at times denying that they had ever met the victims, a long trial. Arrangements were made to make the delivery of crucial evidence by the victims less of a traumatic courtroom experience.

Judge Slater praised the victims for their extraordinary bravery in repeatedly recounting the traumatic events of their abuse. “Their courage has been outstanding, and the dignity they have displayed has been totally impressive. You have my utmost admiration,” he said.

The sentencing brings some measure of justice to the survivors, whole entire lives were thrown into dissarray, left to battle mental health issues and addiction issues. While both survivors have gone a long way towards recovering and regaining control, there are effects continuing to this day. As Judge Slater concluded, while the court’s ruling would not act as a “magic wand” to erase their pain, he hoped it would help them in their journey towards healing.

"I am your Karma": this is how a n abuse survivor addressed the seven men in court who have now begining prison sentences totallling of 106 years for the sexual abuse and exploitation of two girls in Rotherham between 2003 and 2008.

They were investigated as part of the NCA's Operation Stovewood investigation into Rotherham abuse gangs 1997-2013, and this inverstigation bring the total number of convictions approaching 40.

The men were convicted in June of a range of offences including rape, sexual assault, trafficking, and sexual intercourse with a child.

The sentencing, delivered by HHJ Michael Slater at Sheffield Crown Court, marks another grim chapter in the ongoing revelations of child sexual exploitation in the South Yorkshire town.

The abuse surviors put in their one words what this moment meant to them, one of them directly addressing the rank of rapists and abusers in her victim impact statement.