Cabbie denies all child-sex crimes

A ROCHDALE man accused of being part of a child sexual exploitation ring denied being a pimp and said that one of his accusers was “the Devil”, a court heard yesterday.

Eleven men, including two from Oldham, are on trial at Liverpool Crown Court charged with conspiring to engage children in sexual activity.

Yesterday, Abdul Aziz (41), of Armstrong Hurst Close, repeatedly denied having sexual relations with any of the alleged victims and called on the prosecution to present proof of his wrongdoing.

Taxi-driver Aziz, who also denies two counts of rape and one allegation of trafficking for sexual exploitation, denied using his cab to transport under-age girls to other men who would use them for sex and then pay him.

When he was asked about his relationship with the girl, who allegedly helped him pimp out other young victims, he said: “I had no sexual relationship with her. If you do have any proof then show it.”

Earlier, defendant Kabeer Hassan (24), of Lacrosse Avenue, Oldham, denied raping one of the girls upstairs in a takeaway.

He said: “No, I never had sex with her. I never touched her.

“I wouldn’t touch her with a barge pole. I used to keep myself to myself. Simple as that.”

The defendants all deny conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with children under the age of 16 and are all from Rochdale and Oldham.

The jury was sent home for the Easter break and the trial will resume on Tuesday.
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