Two men from Newcastle sex grooming network jailed

Two men have been jailed for more than 40 years for their part in a sex grooming ring operating on the streets of Newcastle, in which underage girls and vulnerable women were exploited for sex at parties with drugs and alcohol.

Jahanger Zaman was sentenced to 29 years behind bars, while Mohammed Azam was jailed for 12 and a half years, at Newcastle Crown Court.

The pair were among 18 people convicted through Operation Shelter, Northumbria Police's biggest ever investigation. Four have already been jailed.

The inquiry involved the controversial use of a police informant who washimself a child rapist and was paid almost £10,000 by Northumbria Police.

John Elvidge QC, prosecuting, said girls were invited to parties and givenalcohol and mephedrone.

"The girls were expected to offer sexual services in return," he said.

"The court heard that the women who were being exploited sometimes consented, sometimes did not consent and sometimes were incapable of consenting."

Mr Elvidge said the victims who gave evidence in court were white British and the defendants were "all of Asian extraction" and mostly British-born.

But the authorities decided their offending was not racially motivated, headded. "The men were more driven by the vulnerability and availability of their victims." Mr Elvidge said.

Eight men were convicted of conspiracy to incite prostitution, while othersprosecuted were involved in supplying drugs.

The prosecutor described the conspirators' method as "cynical and systematic" in that they tricked victims into believing they were in a relationship with their abusers.

In victim statements, one called them "monsters" and said she no longertrusted men.

Another said: "The way they tricked us into thinking they were our friends was disgusting."

A third added: "They made me feel like a piece of meat, and that makes me feel sick."

Privately-educated Mohammed Azram, 35, from Croydon Road, Newcastle, picked up girls from a courtyard in the city's West End known as "The Box".

One victim said he took her to a party where she saw another girl, who did not make a complaint to the police, being treated like a slave.

Mr Elvidge said: "(The witness) described her as looking upset, she was dirty, the bedclothes were dirty, her clothes were ripped."

Men would drop things on the floor and make her pick them up. Azram, who appeared polite, decent and kind, was in fact using grooming behaviour, Mr Elvidge said.

Azram, who married in Pakistan, played a "leading role" in the conspiracy, he added.

Linda Strudwick, defending, said Azram was a drug addict who had enjoyedrunning a shop his parents bought for him.

His barrister said he hoped to live with his sister, a bank worker, in Dubaiwhen he is released, as the state is drug-free.

She said he attended Grainger Grammar School before moving to "Durham Boys' School" but got into drugs after moving to Newcastle College for his GCSEs.

He admitted a string of drugs offences and was convicted of one count of sexual assault and one count of inciting prostitution.

Jahangir Zaman, 45, of Hadrian Road, Newcastle, was convicted of raping a girl by forcing her to give him oral sex.

He was also found guilty of conspiracy to incite prostitution, drugs offences, and following a separate police investigation, conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine.

Recalling one victim's evidence, the barrister said: "She didn't want to do it, but she did want the drugs.

"It was made quite clear sex was the price she had to pay for the M-Cat."

When Zaman was interviewed by police he denied the offences, saying he was married with daughters the same age as the complainants.

Roy Brown, defending, said: "He blames no-one but himself."

The sentencing hearing and more gang members will be dealt with throughout the week.