Rotherham sex abuse victim 'beaten up by her own brothers'

Updated

A teenager was beaten up by her own family after they found out she had been abused by one of three brothers who led a grooming gang in Rotherham, a court has heard.

The girl's double plight was outlined as prosecutors opened the case against Bannaras Hussain at Sheffield Crown Court.

Bannaras and his brothers, Arshid and Basharat Hussain, are due to be sentenced later for subjecting girls to rapes, indecent assault and a range of other offences.

Arshid and Basharat were found guilty earlier this week after a long trial but, as Bannaras pleaded guilty, the case against him was opened by prosecutor Michelle Colborne QC.

Ms Colborne said Bannaras met one victim when she was 12 or 13 and she performed sex acts on him.

"He was indifferent to whether she consented or not," she said.

"When her brothers found out, they were furious with her and would physically assault her because she was involved sexually with an Asian man."

Many of the victims of the brothers sat in the public gallery overlooking the packed courtroom as the sentencing hearing got under way.

Twelve women - most now in their 30s - told a jury they were sexually, physically and emotionally abused in the South Yorkshire town when they were in their early teens.

The jury heard that the Hussain brothers "ruled Rotherham" with their drugs and guns operation and abused girls with impunity.

Arshid, 40, and Basharat, 39, were found guilty of a range of offences earlier this week along with their uncle, Qurban Ali, 53, and two women - Karen MacGregor, 58, and Shelley Davis, 40.

Bannaras pleaded guilty to serious offences at the beginning of his trial.

On Wednesday, victims of the gang welcomed the convictions after so many years in which they were disbelieved and ignored by the authorities.

Five of the gang sat in the dock for the hearing.

Arshid Hussain appeared by video-link from Doncaster Prison.

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