Imtiaz Ali

Imtiaz Ali, aged 53 from Ainsworth Road, Radcliffe, Bury, was jailed for 28 years alongside his cousin Manzorr Hussain for their roles in a sustained campaign of grooming and sexual abuse against five vulnerable teenage girls in the late 1990s. The offences occurred mainly in Bury and across Greater Manchester, with some incidents in Wales, as detailed at Minshull Street Crown Court following a four-week trial.

The court learned that Ali, connected to the Hussain family through his father's friendship, targeted girls from troubled backgrounds. The predators provided drink, drugs, and companionship to manipulate them, creating a false sense of obligation that led to non-consensual sexual activity. Prosecutor Anna Pope explained: 'These defendants each played their part in the grooming and sexual abuse of six teenage girls. The sexual offending took place in houses, a hotel, or sometimes in a car or a van. A number of the girls were particularly vulnerable. They had troubled backgrounds. These defendants took advantage of their personal situations and provided them with drink, drugs, lifts, a place to spend time and company. This was all part of the grooming process. The girls were made to feel like they owed something to these men in return. The sexual activity which then took place was not with their true consent.'

Ali was convicted of five counts of rape, five counts of indecent assault, and one count of attempted indecent assault. He hosted parties at his addresses where girls were given drugs and alcohol, then expected to provide sexual services. The group, including the cousins and Ghulam Hussain who had fled the country, operated as a network, with Ghulam described as the 'main man' who passed girls to others, including Ali.

A victim's impact statement underscored the lasting trauma: 'I was shamed. I was ashamed. I was labelled. These crimes made me feel disgusting and dirty... You are nothing but paedophiles, rapists, scum of the earth, lowest of the low.' The case was triggered by one victim's report, prompting police to identify additional survivors.

Judge Bernadette Baxter condemned the lack of remorse, saying: 'You groomed, sexually abused and exploited the teen girls. Your offending can properly be described as a campaign of rape.' Ali's defence, by Clare Ashcroft, sought the shortest possible custodial sentence, but the judge imposed 28 years. He must serve two-thirds in prison and will be on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely. Coverage from the Manchester Evening News and the Mirror highlighted the severity of the crimes.