Market stalls were used to lure girls for horrific abuse

A LINGERIE stall was the cover for grooming gang ringleader Mohammed Zahid to destroy the lives of two young girls who were trafficked across the North of England.

- By Paul Jeeves

It was there at Rochdale's indoor market that Zahid, 65, known as "Knickerman" to his victims and "Bossman" to his accomplices, dished out free underwear, plus money, alcohol and food. In return, girls were required to have sex "whenever and wherever" the defendants and other men wanted, in flats, cars, car parks, alleyways and disused warehouses.

Alongside Zahid, abusers Mushtaq Ahmed, 67, and Kasir Bashir, 50, also sold wares.