Men accused of using girls for sexual demands as defence warns not to bring prejudice about Rochdale, jury hears

A jury has been told that eight men used two girls for their ‘sexual demands’ as defence counsel implored them not to ‘bring prejudice’ about the history of Rochdale into their deliberations.

Following a two month trial at Minshull Street Crown Court, in which eight men are accused of sexually exploiting two girls between 2002 and 2006, prosecution and defence barristers have addressed jurors in their closing speeches.

Neither women, as complainants of sexual offences, can be publicly identified.

Join our FREE Manchester Crime and Court WhatsApp group by clicking here

On Tuesday (July 25), prosecutor Neil Usher, said jurors had heard the evidence, some of it they will ‘never forget’. He said the first complainant, who gave evidence over a number of days, was able to ‘accurately recall what she was doing, who she was with, and when it was’, of the offences alleged.

He said the defence counsel suggested she had ‘lied’ or ‘mistakenly misremembered’ who was involved.

“Why were these girls the objects of these men’s affections?” he asked rhetorically.

“It’s no accident these men picked each of them as vulnerable, immature, needy and damaged children to sexually exploit. Using your experience of the world, you won’t be surprised they chose girls like [first complainant] and [second complainant] to abuse, nor will you be surprised these girls had chaotic lives, with low self esteem and were willing to respond to being groomed.

“They were children. They were emotionally immature children leading chaotic lifestyles, groomed with drink and drugs given to them by these men.

“They were beyond parental control and deluded into thinking these men actually liked them. Consent could not be genuine consent.”

Alluding to an alleged