Nabeel Kurshid

Nabeel Kurshid, aged 35 from Weetwood Road in Rotherham, received a 19-year custodial sentence at Sheffield Crown Court for two counts of rape and one count of indecent assault committed against girls aged 13 to 16 between 1998 and 2005. His actions formed part of a coordinated effort by a group of men to groom and sexually exploit vulnerable teenagers in Rotherham, using manipulation, drugs, and threats to ensure compliance.

Under Operation Stovewood, the NCA's investigation into historical child sexual exploitation in Rotherham, Kurshid's crimes came to light. The scandal involved at least 1,400 victims between 1997 and 2013, with perpetrators employing violence and intimidation. Kurshid participated in gang rapes and abusive acts described as degrading and violent, luring girls with the excitement of friendship before subjecting them to repeated assaults.

One notable incident involved Kurshid, along with Iqlak Yousaf and another man, giving cannabis to a 14-year-old girl and driving her to Sherwood Forest, where they took turns raping her and warned her of abandonment if she resisted. Victims were passed around among the men and abused in locations including Clifton Park, Ulley Country Park, and remote areas. The court heard accounts of girls being coerced into sexual acts with multiple offenders, exacerbating their trauma.

Judge Sarah Wright remarked on the offenders' behaviour: 'You were clearly not immature evidenced by the fact you all indulged in cynical manipulation and exploitation of your victims, which showed a maturity well beyond your chronological age. They continue to suffer considerable trauma and will continue to suffer throughout their lives as a result of your actions.' A victim's statement captured the lasting impact: 'I feel like I'm constantly fighting to get justice for what they did to me. I hope the court realises these men have destroyed me. Some parts of me can never be fixed.' NCA's Paul Williamson noted: 'The men who have been sentenced today preyed on vulnerable young girls for their own satisfaction. They used violence and intimidation and believed they were untouchable by law enforcement.'

The convictions highlight the systemic failure to protect the girls earlier, with the men of British Pakistani heritage targeting those most vulnerable in society.