Three men have been found guilty of raping girls in Plymouth.
- Abalzaq Salih, 31, from Plymouth, was convicted of two counts of rape of a female aged 15 or under.
- Saif Kahya, 32, from Liverpool, was found guilty of one count of rape of a female aged 16 or over.
- Anthony Anantharajah, 35, from London, was convicted of one count of rape of a female aged 16 or over. He was found not guilty of engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged 15 or under.
To deal with some of the more complex and challenging child sexual abuse cases like this, the CPS has established a dedicated Organised Child Sexual Abuse Unit to share specialist understanding, build strong cases and increase the amount of successful prosecutions.
- Claire Brinton is a Specialist Prosecutor for the CPS Serious Economic and Organised Crime International Directorate (SEOCID)
- Anthony Anantharajah [DOB: 30/5/1989] from London, found guilty of rape of a female aged 16 or over in February 2017. He was found not guilty of engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged 15 or under between 1 January and 16 May 2016 and sentenced to 13 years imprisonment and seven years on extended licence
- Abalzaq Salih [DOB: 1/5/1993] from Plymouth, found guilty of two counts of rape of a female aged 15 or under between 12-14 May 2017, and 21-22 December 2017 and sentenced to 19 years imprisonment
- Saif Kahya [DOB: 31/1/1992] from Liverpool, found guilty of rape of a female aged 16 or over between 21-22 December 2017 and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment
- A complainant has the right to anonymity under section 1 of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992
The men were remanded in custody and are due to be sentenced in September.
The men denied the charges and were convicted following a five-week trial at Plymouth Crown Court.
Devon and Cornwall Police said the abuse came to light after a girl came forward and gave key evidence to police after she watched the BBC drama Three Girls which described a high-profile investigation in Rochdale.
The jury heard the programme “triggered her” and she reported how during a series of parties in Plymouth in 2017 where girls had been given alcohol and money to buy drugs, they were slowly groomed and then sexually assaulted by the men present.
During the trial, a statement was read out from the mother of one of the girls who said she was convinced her daughter was becoming involved with the wrong crowd and was attending parties where drinking and drugs were being used. She explained that she had called the authorities telling them they needed to take action.
‘Here to listen’
Plymouth Commander, Temporary Ch Supt Scott Bradley, said: “I want to start by praising the bravery of the survivors in this case.
“Without their evidence and courage we would not have been able to achieve this outcome.
“Devon and Cornwall Police is committed to tackling violence against women and girls, and targeting those who seek to prey on the vulnerable.
“The guilty verdicts are a culmination of years of hard work by a committed and professional team of officers and staff.
“Our message to other survivors of sexual abuse is that we are here to listen, to work with you, to support you, and to achieve justice.”
A fourth man, 45-year-old Moussa Ahmadou, from Plymouth, was found not guilty of sexual assault on a female.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd6yg667nl7o
https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/plymouth-news/three-men-who-raped-vulnerable-9501135
https://www.cps.gov.uk/cps/news/three-men-jailed-raping-young-girls-plymouth