Shropshire Star

Three on trial for sex abuse of girl, 15, in Telford

The trial of three men accused of child sexual exploitation offences in Telford has started.

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They are accused of a total of 20 offences relating to the trafficking and rape of a 15-year-old girl who was befriended on social media.

Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday heard that Ghamer Sulayman, 23, Ayad Hizam, 21, and Salem Qasem, 20, were arrested following an investigation when the teenager was reported missing.

Mark Heywood, prosecuting, told the jury that in 2016 the girl began talking online to a man who called himself ‘Nathan’, who was Ayad Hizam.

He added: “After a while ‘Nathan’ asked if they could meet up. At first she said ‘no’, but he kept asking and eventually she agreed.”

The court was told that over the next few weeks the pair stayed in hotels in the town, and she was introduced to Sulayman and Qasem for similar activity.

Mr Heywood said it was arranged for her to be taken to meet numerous men for sex, and on at least one occasion up to 12 men abused her at a supermarket car park in Telford.

All three accused, from Birmingham, deny the allegations which relate to dates between March and July 2016.

Sulayman faces seven counts of rape and three of trafficking. Qasem faces one count of sexual assault and one of trafficking. Hizam faces four counts of abduction and four of sexual activity with a child.

The trial continues.

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