TWELVE men arrested as part of an investigation into child sexual abuse in Rotherham due to appear in court today charged with 44 offences including rape, indecent assault, supplying drugs and false imprisonment.

They are (all addresses are Rotherham unless stated): Iqlak Yousaf (33) of Tooker Road; Mohammed Imran Ali Akhtar (36) of East Road; Tanweer Ali (36), of Godstone Road; Aftab Hussain (38), of York Road; Abid Saddiq (36), of Walter Street; Sharaz Hussain (33), of Fitzwilliam Road, Eastwood; and Salah Ahmed El-Hakam (38), of Tudor Close, Sheffield; Mohammed Ashan (33), of Leyland, Lancashire; Waseem Khaliq (33), of Wetherby; and Masaeud Malik (33).

The charges, brought as part of the National Crime Agency's Operation Stovewood, relate to the alleged sexual abuse of eight girls under the age of 16, over a five-year period from 1998 to 2003.

All 12 men are due to appear at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court this morning.

The charges are as follows:

Mohammed Ashan: two counts of rape of a girl aged under 16; two of indecent assault of a girl aged under 16.

Imran Akhtar: four counts of indecent assault of a girl aged under 16, supplying a Class B drug, rape of a girl aged under 16, aiding and abetting rape of a girl aged under 16, sexual touching of a girl aged 13 or over, and procuring a female under 21 for unlawful sexual intercourse.

Tanweer Ali: two counts of rape of a girl aged under 16; two of indecent assault of a girl aged under 16, one of false imprisonment.

Salah Ahmed El-Hakam: rape of a girl aged under 16.

Aftab Hussain: three counts of rape of a girl aged under 16; two of indecent assault of a girl aged under 16; one of detaining a child to keep her from a person having lawful control.

Sharaz Hussain: indecent assault of a girl aged under 16.

Nabeel Kurshid: two counts of rape of a girl aged under 16; one of indecent assault of a girl aged under 16.

Masaeud Malik: indecent assault of a girl aged under 16.

Amjal Rafiq: indecent assault of a girl aged under 16 and false imprisonment.

Abid Saddiq: four counts of rape of a girl aged under 16; five of indecent assault of a girl aged under 16.

Iqlak Yousaf: two counts of rape of a girl aged under 16; one of indecent assault of a girl aged under 16.

Waseem Khaliq: rape of a girl aged under 16.

Operation Stovewood is the NCA’s investigation into non-familial child sexual exploitation and abuse in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013.