"I lost my identity when I was just a child."
Mohammed Saleem, aged 42, of Rochdale, was jailed for 33 years for a campaign of abuse against two girls.
The taxi driver groomed the two girls, who were aged 14 and 15 when he targeted them in the 1990s.
Both victims were extremely vulnerable and “abused in the worst ways possible”.
Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard that Saleem met them both at an older associate’s house.
Prosecutor Mark Kellet said Saleem gave the girls lifts in his cab and plied them with alcohol and cannabis before raping them.
Saleem, who was married and had children, went on to continue sexually, physically and mentally abusing one of the girls for more than 17 years.
He even installed spyware on their computers to monitor their internet activity.
Mr Kellet said: “The victim was vulnerable due to the use of alcohol and drugs to facilitate the offences.
“There were 16 offences of rape over an 18-year period.
“There was systematic abuse of the victim, who was targeted and exploited as an extremely vulnerable young child.”
After a six-week trial, Saleem was found guilty of 31 offences including:
- Six counts of indecent assault against a 14-year-old female
- Rape of a 14-year-old female
- Three counts of rape of a 14/15-year-old female
- Indecent assault against a 15-year-old female
- Assault occasioning actual bodily harm
- Nine counts of rape of a female
- Assault by penetration
- Three counts of rape of a female under 16 years
- Two counts of voyeurism
- Sexual assault
- Securing unauthorised access to computer material
- Two counts of making indecent images of a child
Saleem had no previous convictions.
In mitigation, David Langwallner said: “There is an element of acceptance of a degree of responsibility.
“Looking at the issue of dangerousness in the context of intimate relationships, there is no doubt he was a danger to young girls 20 years ago, but there has not been any displays of that danger recently.
“Mr Saleem is going to face an awful shock quite soon.”
In a victim impact statement, the first woman said:
“I often reflect on how my childhood was full of abuse instead of love and protection.
“I feel ashamed by what happened.
“Coming to the stand in the court was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do.”
The second victim said: “It’s impossible to put into words how I have been personally affected by the last 32 years.
“My whole life was destroyed – I lost my identity when I was just a child.
“I became an empty shell.
“I really struggle to make choices for myself as I was always made to believe I was incapable of making my own decisions.
“No doubt as a result of what I have suffered, I have been left unable to trust, which has left me very lonely and isolated.
“I still don’t know how to move forward.”
Judge Tina Landale said: “She was almost half your age when you spotted her and targeted her for a sexual relationship in which you exploited and manipulated her.
“You took away her freedom.
“It was your distorted belief that Islam entitled you to rape her on many occasions.
“You saw her as your possession.
“There was a significant degree of planning, you targeted her with false compliments, alcohol and drugs to wheedle your way into her life and exploit her.
“Your other victim, you manipulated her with drugs and alcohol using the advantage of a premises to enable the rape to take place.
“You have no remorse, and your report identifies that you find you have done nothing wrong.”
Calling Saleem a dangerous offender, Judge Landale said:
“You are capable of deceiving those closest to you.
“You have no empathy at all or insight into the damage you have caused.
“You believe you are entitled to sex whenever you want.”
Saleem was jailed for 30 years with an extended licence period of three years. He will serve two thirds in prison before being considered for release.
He was also made the subject of the Sex Offenders Register for life and Sexual harm Prevention Order indefinitely.
Loading ...