Sex grooming gang who abused girls as young as 13 in car they nicknamed ‘s**g wagon’ jailed for total of almost 90 years

A GROUP of men who abused teenage girls – often in a car they nicknamed the “shag wagon” – have been jailed for a total of nearly 90 years.

The twisted gang – aged 36 to 48 – plied vulnerable girls as young as 13 with drink and drugs at “parties” in Oxford.

The eight men – branded “predatory and cynical” by a judge – have now been jailed for between seven-and-a-half and fifteen years each.

Judge Peter Ross said the investigation into the gang had uncovered “systematic and widespread grooming”.

He said sexual abuse had become “the norm” for the men.

The judge said: “It is clear that there were hundreds of episodes of sexual abuse. The impact on the victims of these offences has been shattering.

“It must be remembered that each of you in your own way played a part in destroying the lives of these young women.”

The abuse, which prosecutor Oliver Saxby QC called “routine, cynical and predatory sexual exploitation” all took place between 1998 and 2005.

The trial heard how the men coerced the girls into having sex at a number of addresses across Oxford, as well as in cars parked at lay-bys, and at local parks.

One of the locations where the abuse took place was in a black Nissan Serena people carrier with a licence plate ending “SHG”. The vehicle was the scene of various instances of sexual abuse.

One of the victims said of the car: “They would pick the girls, have sex with them, and dump them. Everything happened in that Serena.”

At sentencing hearings this week, Assad Hussain, 37, was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 12 years for multiple counts of rape and indecent assault.

He was described as using one victim as a “sexual object”.

Moinul Islam, 42, got 15 years and nine months for rape, indecent assault and supplying class B and class C drugs.

Judge Ross said Islam had a child “completely at his mercy”.

Haji Khan, 38, got ten years for conspiracy to rape. Raheem Ahmed, 41, got 12 years for indecent assault and false imprisonment.

Kamran Khan, 36, got eight years for false imprisonment and indecent assault. Kameer Iqbal, 39, was imprisoned for 12 years for multiple rapes.

Alladitta Yousaf, 48, got seven-and-a-half years for indecent assault. Khalid Hussain, 38, was jailed for 12 years for indecent assault and rape.

Barrister Mark George QC, representing Hussain, pointed to his upbringing as part of the Muslim community which he said “does have a tendency to encourage clandestine relationships” because he was not allowed to bring girlfriends home or have sex before marriage.

He added that while in custody he has been a model prisoner, and taken it upon himself to become a ‘listener’, helping to mentor and guide other inmates.

Defence teams went on to say during the hearing that their clients were largely ‘immature’ and had been themselves young, many still in their teens, at the time of their offending and had since sought to live a crime-free and productive life.

The NSPCC said the victims, aged between 13 and 15, “would not be silenced” despite a “campaign of fear and violence” from the men.

Investigating officer DS Nicola Douglas branded the gang’s crimes “abhorrent”, adding: “None of the perpetrators have admitted their guilt or shown any remorse.”

She praised the victims for coming forward, saying: “The impact of these offences on the victims, their families and relationships cannot be underestimated.

“There are devastating consequences which last long after the offence is committed.

“Without these women telling their stories, perpetrators who exploit and commit serious sexual offences against some of the most vulnerable children and young adults in our communities will remain hidden, unpunished and free to do more harm.’

She added: “I know nothing can ever undo the unimaginable suffering they were put through, but I hope it gives them some comfort to know these men have finally been held accountable for the abhorrent crimes they committed.”