Rochdale child 'prostitution ring' charges Published duration 8 June 2011

Eight men have been remanded in custody over allegations of grooming and committing sexual activity with teenage girls in Rochdale, Greater Manchester.

The charges against them include rape, paying for sexual services of a child, trafficking a child and controlling child prostitution.

Those charged are among 26 arrested in relation to the sexual exploitation of teenage girls since 2008.

The charges are based on allegations by four teenage girls from Rochdale.

Border Agency

All eight appeared before Rochdale Magistrates' Court earlier and will appear at Bolton Crown Court on 22 June.

The charged men are:

Abdul Rauf, 42, of Darley Road, Rochdale, charged with conspiracy to commit sexual activity with girls under 16, sexual activity and paying for the sexual services of a child and trafficking a child within the UK

Mohammed Ikhlaq, 41 of Cloverhall Crescent, Rochdale, charged with conspiracy to commit sexual activity with girls under 16

Adil Khan, 41, of Oswald Street, Rochdale, charged with conspiracy to commit sexual activity with girls under 16, two offences of sexual activity, and trafficking a child within the UK

Liaquat Shah, 41, of Kensington Street, Rochdale, charged with conspiracy to commit sexual activity with girls under 16 and two counts of rape

Mohammed Sajid, 34, of Jepheys Street, Rochdale, charged with conspiracy to commit sexual activity with a girl under 16, three offences of sexual activity and attempting to pay for the sexual services of a child

Qamar Shahzad, 29, of Tweedale Street, Freehold, Rochdale, charged with conspiracy to commit sexual activity with girls under 16 and rape

Mohammed Amin, 44, of Falinge Road, Falinge, Rochdale, charged with conspiracy to commit sexual activity with girls under 16, sexual assault and sexual activity

Abdul Aziz, 40, of Armstrong Hurst Close, Rochdale, charged with conspiracy to commit sexual activity with girls under 16, trafficking girls, rape and controlling child prostitution

Wanted by police

Meanwhile, three men aged between 34 and 43 answered bail on Tuesday and were re-bailed to later dates.

A further five men are due to answer bail on 21 June 2011.

Five other men have been released without charge while three more are not on bail.

Police said one man had been handed over to the UK Border Agency.

Hamid Safi, 21, of Kensington Street, Rochdale, failed to answer bail and is now wanted by police.

The inquiry was carried out by Greater Manchester Police's Public Protection Division and its Major Incident Team working with Rochdale division officers.