Ribas Asad

Four men, including Ribas Asad, were convicted at Newcastle Crown Court for their roles in a gang that sexually exploited vulnerable girls as young as 13 over a number of years starting from 2006. The case was investigated by Northumbria Police as part of Operation Wren, which uncovered a network where the defendants held the girls 'in thrall to and under the control' of these older men.

Ribas Asad, 29, from Newcastle, was found guilty of sexual assault and sexual activity with a child. He was also convicted of supplying drugs and causing a child to engage in sexual activity. Asad was cleared of paying for the sexual services of a child and conspiracy to facilitate or arrange the prostitution of a child. The prosecution highlighted the repugnant nature of the exploitation, with Detective Superintendent Steve Barron of Northumbria Police stating: 'We want to ensure there is a repugnant stigma associated with sexual exploitation in all communities and, in particular, against individuals who think this treatment of women and girls is in any way acceptable.'

The offences involved the gang using drugs and control to exploit the young victims, with the convictions coming six weeks after a similar case involving 17 men and one woman convicted of plying girls with alcohol and drugs to force them into sex. Asad and his co-defendants are due to be sentenced in October 2017.