Rochdale Grooming Gang Leader Sentenced 35 Years For Child Exploitation

Mohammed Zahid, known as 'Boss Man,' was sentenced to 35 years in prison for leading a grooming gang that sexually abused and raped two girls in Rochdale, England, between 2001 and 2006. Zahid lured the victims, starting at age 13, by offering free underwear and gifts from his market stall, expecting sexual favors in return, and was part of a network including market traders and taxi drivers who exploited vulnerable girls using the "boyfriend model". The girls were subjected to repeated abuse in various locations, including filthy flats, car parks, and a basement shop, and were given drugs and alcohol to control them. Six other men involved were also convicted and received lengthy sentences, though one, Kasir Bashir, remains on the run. The case highlights systemic failures in preventing such abuse, with Greater Manchester Police launching investigations in recent years to bring offenders to justice. The sentencing marks a significant step in addressing a national scandal involving grooming gangs, particularly in areas like Rochdale that first exposed the issue in the early 2010s.