THE trial of nine Asian men who were jailed for grooming young white girls for sex may have been "improperly influenced" by far-right groups, it was claimed.
The gang were jailed for between four and 19 years by a judge who said they treated their victims "as though they were worthless and beyond any respect".
Judge Gerald Clifton said yesterday: "One of the factors leading to that was the fact that they were not part of your community or religion."
The men have been convicted of conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with children under the age of 16 and other sexual offences including rape and trafficking for sexual exploitation.
The man regarded as the ringleader, a 59-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons, was jailed for 19 years for conspiracy, two counts of rape, aiding and abetting a rape, sexual assault and a count of trafficking within the UK for sexual exploitation.
Takeaway worker Kabeer Hassan, 25, of Lacrosse Avenue, Oldham, was jailed for nine years for rape and three years, concurrently, for the conspiracy conviction.
Taxi driver Abdul Aziz, 41, of Armstrong Hurst Close, Rochdale, was sentenced to nine years for conspiracy and nine years, concurrently, for trafficking for sexual exploitation.
Abdul Rauf, 43, of Darley Road, Rochdale, was jailed for six years for conspiracy and six years, concurrently, for trafficking for sexual exploitation.
Mohammed Sajid, 35, of Jepheys Street, Rochdale, was sentenced to 12 years for rape, six years for conspiracy, one year for trafficking and six years, all concurrent, for sexual activity with a child.
Adil Khan, 42, of Oswald Street, Rochdale, was sentenced to eight years for conspiracy and eight, concurrently, for trafficking.
Mohammed Amin, 45, of Falinge Road, Rochdale, was sentenced to five years for conspiracy and 12 months, concurrently, for sexual assault.
Abdul Qayyum, 44, of Ramsay Street, Rochdale, was jailed for five years for conspiracy.
Illegal immigrant Hamid Safi, 22, of no fixed address, was jailed for four years for conspiracy and one year, concurrently, for trafficking.
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