Old Bailey judge: Vulnerability and age of sex abuse victims was ‘blindingly obvious’

A judge has praised the bravery of the two victims of the Aylesbury sex ring and said their young ages would have been ‘blindingly obvious’ to the vile men who abused them.

Following a two month trial, the jury took more than 42 hours to find six guilty of a range of vile offences against the girls, who bravely spent days giving evidence and being cross-examined at the Old Bailey.

During the trial the jury were told how the girls were given drugs, alcohol and attention to win their trust.

Akbari Khan, 36, cried as the sentences were read out, while the other five men remained emotionless in the dock on Monday.

On handing down the jail time, which when split between all the men totals 82-and-a-half years, Judge John Bevan said: “Woman A was very brave to come to this court and bare her soul.

“With a dysfunctional home life, growing up in a hostel with an embittered and alcoholic mother.

“Her mother’s cure for neighbours who showed sexual advances towards her daughter was a hammer through the front door.”

Judge Bevan said that Woman A had a distrust of white men because her father abused her, and to cope with this she comfort ate which made her a target for bullies.

He said: “She sought friendship amongst Asian males in their 20s or above, and for the price of a McDonald’s milkshake or a ready smile.”

He added: “By the age of 13 she was sexually experienced, confusing sexual gratification for friendship.”

The judge also praised Woman B’s bravery.

He dismissed claims by barristers acting on behalf of the defendants that their clients could not have known the victims’ ages or vulnerabilities saying they would have been ‘blindingly obvious’.

He said: “Why these defendants focussed their attention on these white underage girls remains unexplained, but I think their availability, and inadequate parenting plays a heavy part.”

Vikram Singh, 45, of Cannock Road, Aylesbury, was found guilty of four counts of rape and one of administering a substance with intent. He was jailed 17-and-a-half years

Asif Hussain, 33, of Hodge Lea, Milton Keynes, was convicted of three counts of rape. He was jailed for 13-and-a-half years

Arshad Jani, 33, of Cousins Drive, Aylesbury, was found guilty of rape and conspiracy to rape. He was jailed for 13 years

Mohammed Imran, 38, of Springcliffe Street, Bradford, was convicted of three counts of rape, one count of conspiracy to rape and one count of child prostitution. He was jailed for 19-and-a-half years

Akbari Khan, 36, of Mandeville Road, Aylesbury, was found guilty of two counts of rape, one of administering a substance with intent and conspiracy to rape. He was jailed for 16 years.

Taimoor Khan, 29, of Highbridge Road, Aylesbury, was convicted of one count of sexual activity with a child. He was jailed for three years.

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