Ten men have been jailed for a total of more than 125 years for sexual offences against eight girls and women in Rochdale.

They included Afraz Ahmed, a former bus driver who picked up two of his young victims from school and offered them free tickets.

He was originally questioned in 2006 but a decision was made not to prosecute him after he claimed the girls' complaints against him were racially motivated.

The public gallery broke into applause today when Ahmed was handed a 25-year sentence.

The main victim in the case was white and had learning difficulties. She was said by prosecutors to be an 'extremely vulnerable young woman' who had endured 'a very difficult home life'.

Former bus driver Afraz Ahmed - who claimed his victims were racist when he was originally arrested - got the longest sentence. He motioned to the judge to ask if he could say something after he was given the jail term, but he was ordered to leave the dock

Kutab Miah (left) of Rochdale, for nine years. Choudry Hussein (right) got 19 years for rape. Hussain is currently on the run, believed to be in Pakistan, after absconding during his trial

She walked into a police station after media coverage of the 2012 convictions of a number of Asian defendants for grooming white girls for sex in the town.

She told officers that from the age of 14 she too had been repeatedly sexually groomed by a large number of men in Rochdale.

The main victim in the case said that 'hundreds' of men would ring her up, wanting her to go out and have sex with them, during the time she was groomed.

The offences, which also involved other under-age victims, took place in Rochdale and the surrounding area, mainly between 2005 and 2010.

Nine of the defendants were sentenced at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court today, while another man was jailed last year.

Judge John Potter said: 'Each of the victims... was subjected to cross-examination which suggested they were not telling the truth. Each dealt with this ordeal impressively.

'I have little doubt that each of the victims have been affected by your abuse of them to some degree, some far more than others.'

Abid Khan (left) got six-and-a-half years and Rehan Ali (right) was imprisoned for seven years

Mohammed Dauood (left), of Burnley, was jailed for 16 years. David Law (right) was jailed for 11 years

The judge said it was testament to their 'bravery, courage and fortitude' they had given evidence in court despite the 'appalling way' they were treated. Two of the victims, he said, had suffered psychological harm.

The main victim in the case gave evidence in two separate trials which lasted a total of 15 weeks.

Seven other complainants, who were aged 13 to 22 at the time of the offences, also came forward to testify, which secured convictions against a number of the defendants.

Former bus driver Ahmed, 33, of Rochdale, was found guilty of various sexual offences, including rape, conspiracy to rape and sexual activity with a child, in relation to five underage victims.

While working as a bus driver, Ahmed, then aged in his early 20s, spoke to his schoolgirl victims in a 'highly inappropriate manner', the court heard. He asked if one of them had a boyfriend and seemingly offered them free bus tickets.

The judge told Ahmed: 'You objectivised your vulnerable victims so you could exploit them for your own sexual desire.'

Mohammed Zahid (left) of Rochdale, got five years. Mahfuz Rahman (right) was jailed for five-and-a-half years

On-the-run Choudry Hussein, 38, formerly of Rochdale, was jailed for 19 years in his absence for rape, sexual activity with a child and conspiracy to rape.

He is believed to be currently in Pakistan after he absconded during his trial.

Rehan Ali, 27, of Blackley, was imprisoned for seven years and Kutab Miah, 35, of Rochdale, for nine years after both were found guilty of rape and sexual activity with a child.

Abid Khan, 39, of Liverpool, was jailed for six-and-a-half years and Mohammed Zahid, 55, of Rochdale, for five years after both were found guilty of sexual activity with a child.

Mohammed Dauood, 38, of Burnley, was jailed for 16 years after he was convicted of offences in relation to two victims including rape, sexual activity with a child and sexual assault.

David Law, 46, of Ilkeston, Derbyshire, was jailed for 11 years after he was convicted of conspiracy to rape.

Most of the grooming took place in Rochdale in between 2005 and 2010. The victim came forward after another hearing about the abuse exposed in another trial

A tenth defendant, Mahfuz Rahman, 29, of HMP Garth, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to three counts of sexual activity with a child. He was jailed for five-and-a-half years last September.

A 40-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was jailed for 23 years after he was convicted of rape and attempting to abduct a child in relation to three victims. He will serve an additional eight years on extended licence when he is released.

Senior investigating officer Det Chief Insp Jamie Daniels said: 'This was an extremely complex case and I want to commend the victims for the immense bravery they have shown; only with their support have we arrived at this point.