Eight men in Rotherham were convicted of sexually exploiting young girls

According to Detectives the offences took place between 1999 and 2003 in Rotherham, South Yorkshire and they praised the victims for coming forward so "their voices have been heard".

The abusers sexualized the girls and, in some cases, the victims were subjected to acts of a "degrading and violent nature", Sheffield Crown Court heard.

According to Prosecutors said ringleader Sageer Hussain played a "key role" and was "instrumental in befriending young girls who were flattered that he and his friends spent time with them".

He, his friends, older brothers and associates then exploited them.  One of the victims spoke to police in 2003 and said Hussain repeatedly raped her at 13 years old, the trial heard.

The girl, now aged in her late 20s, and her family withdrew the allegations due to threats, according to prosecutors.

Police lost her clothes without carrying out any forensic tests, and the family took her out of school before eventually fleeing to Spain to get away from the men, the court heard.

Seven of the molesters are from Rotherham while the other is from Goole. They are:

Sageer Hussain, 30, was convicted of four rapes and one indecent assault.

Mohammed Whied, 32, was found guilty of one count of aiding and abetting rape.

Ishtiaq Khaliq, 33, was found guilty of one rape and three indecent assaults.

Waleed Ali, 34, was found guilty of one rape and one indecent assault.

Asif Ali, 30, was convicted on one rape.

Masoued Malik, 32, was found guilty of one rape, one count of conspiracy to commit indecent assault and one of false imprisonment.

v Naeem Rafiq, 33, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit indecent assault and one of false imprisonment.

v Basharat Hussain, 40, from Goole, was convicted of one indecent assault

They are all in police custody and will be sentenced on the 4^th of November.