A gang of six men has been jailed for a total of 101 years after sexually exploiting five vulnerable teenage girls in Rotherham.

The men targeted girls who were 'easy to exploit because they wanted to be loved' - sexually abusing them in parks, abandoned buildings and secluded locations.

The offences were committed against five girls under 16 in the Rotherham area between 1998 and 2005.

Their abusers - all Asian men from Sheffield and Rotherham - were convicted of offences including rape and indecent assault.

Nabeel Kurshid and Mohammed Imran Ali Akhtar (right) are among a sex gang from Rotherham jailed for a combined 101 years this afternoon

Asif Ali and Tanweer Ali (right) got terms of terms of 10 years and 14 years respectively

Iqlak Yousaf (left) got a 20-year jail term. Salah Ahmed El-Hakam (right) got 15 years

The girls said in statements how the men had 'destroyed' them and that their childhood had been taken from them.

One of the victims told a trial how she was made to have sex with 'at least 100 Asian men' by the time she was 16 and another described how she was gang-raped in a forest and threatened with being abandoned there.

At Sheffield Crown Court today, Judge Sarah Wright told the men: 'Each in your own way perpetrated, facilitated or encouraged the sexual abuse of these young girls.

'Each of the complainants in this case were groomed, coerced and intimidated. Each of them was groomed. Each of you, groomed.

'You can have been in no doubt that the complainants were vulnerable in the extreme.

'You were clearly not immature evidenced by the fact you all indulged in cynical manipulation and exploitation of your victims which showed a maturity well beyond your chronological age.'

She added: 'They continue to suffer considerable trauma and will continue to suffer throughout their lives as a result of your actions.'

The sex attacks took place in Rotherham, where investigations have found such abuse was rife

During the gang's trial, prosecutor Michelle Colborne QC told how the victims were 'local girls with unsettled home lives'.

She said: 'They were lured by the excitement of friendship of older Asian youths. They were given drugs and alcohol and passed on to other men for their own sexual gratification.

Girl tells of ordeal of having scores of men contacting her for sex One victim told the court she suffered abuse between 1998 and 2001, starting when she was just 13 years old. In a video interview, she said: 'I can honestly say that by the age of 16 I had slept with 100 Asian men - some I didn't see again. 'The ones who come and use you for one time are the ones who are hard to remember. 'As soon as you get to know them your number gets passed around. 'Asian lads demanding to meet you - then you meet a new group and it went on like that. 'I didn't know at the time I was being passed around when I was 13 but I know now I'm older.' Advertisement

The court heard that five of the men, led by 'ringleader' Mohammed Imran Akhtar, were friends who were 'content to pass the girls around'.

As they were sentenced, prosecutor Michelle Colborne QC said the offences had a massive effect on victims' lives.

In victim impact statements read out by Miss Colbourne, the court heard how one of them - who was aged between 13-15 at the time - had been 'destroyed' by the abuse.

Another victim - who was gang-raped in a forest by defendants Nabeel Kurshid and Iqlak Yousaf along with a third man - said the defendants 'broke' her.

Ms Colborne described this as 'not a gentle act' but a 'planned group attack'.

The teenager was forced to terminate her unborn child after the rape and was left 'severely psychologically-damaged'.

She wrote: 'They made me think abusive behaviour was normal in any relationship.

'Due to them I was not able to recognise the abuse I suffered - I hope the sentencing reflects how much damage they have caused to my life.'